Melanie Wittwer
PhD Candidate - Research Assistant
Adelaide Medical School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
PhD candidate at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, Department of Cardiology investigating the incidence, management, and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Grant Funded Scientist, Department of Cardiology, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN)
Northern Cardiovascular Research Group (Lyell McEwin Hospital)
Our research group aims to improve outcomes for people with cardiovascular disease in northern Adelaide. Our main research themes include management of coronary heart disease, heart disorders during pregnancy, and heart disease in women. We are a passionate team of clinicians and scientists who have a strong focus on collaborative clinical research in a hospital setting. The diversity of our research strengths and methods means that there are many opportunities for students to explore and develop their own research interests.
My PhD Project
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is an extreme medical condition associated with high mortality, a diverse underlying aetiology, complex prognostication and surprisingly good outcomes for the few who survive to hospital discharge. My research will address many of the gaps in our understanding of presentation, treatment and outcomes within the North Adelaide Local Health Network.
Available Research Projects
Surviving Cardiac Arrest in Northern Adelaide
Project description: Our projects combine cardiology, emergency, intensive care, and SA Ambulance, with potential for broader collaboration with epidemiology, rehabilitation medicine, outcomes research and psychiatry. Projects aim to improve overall survival after cardiac arrest and include: (1) Cardiac interventions; (2) Gender disparities; (3) Physical, mental, and emotional outcomes; (4) End of life care. Small to medium projects can be adapted to suit the interests of summer research and honours students.
Projects available for: Third Year / Honours / HDR / Masters
Location: LMH
Research project start: Semester 1 and 2
Special requirements: Police clearance and vaccinations
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2011 - ongoing Research Assistant Lyell McEwin Hospital -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2016 University of Adelaide Australia PhD 2011 - 2012 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) 2007 - 2010 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2022 Wittwer, M. R., Zeitz, C., Beltrame, J. F., & Arstall, M. A. (2022). Aetiology of resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated at hospital. Resuscitation, 170, 178-183.
Scopus1 WoS12022 Wittwer, M. R., Armstrong, T., Conway, J., Ruknuddeen, M. I., Zeitz, C., Beltrame, J. F., & Arstall, M. A. (2022). In-hospital mode of death after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation Plus, 10, 100229.
2022 Wittwer, M. R., Aldridge, E., Hein, C., Thorrowgood, M., Zeitz, C., Beltrame, J. F., & Arstall, M. A. (2022). Sex Differences in Incidence and Outcome of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Within a Local Health Network. FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE, 9, 10 pages.
2021 Tutarel, O., Ramlakhan, K. P., Baris, L., Subirana, M. T., Bouchardy, J., Nemes, A., . . . Gouton, M. (2021). Pregnancy outcomes in women after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries: Results from ROPAC (Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease) of the European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme. Journal of the American Heart Association, 10(1), 1-11.
Scopus3 Europe PMC32021 Wittwer, M. R., RUKNUDDEEN, M. I., Thorrowgood, M., Zeitz, C., Beltrame, J. F., & Arstall, M. A. (2021). Overcoming challenges of establishing a hospital-based out-of-hospital cardiac arrest registry: accuracy of case identification using administrative data and clinical registries.. Resuscitation plus, 6, 1-7.
Europe PMC42021 Khoja, A., Arstall, M. A., Andraweera, P. H., Lassi, Z. S., Zheng, M., Pathirana, M. M., . . . Tavella, R. (2021). Risk factors for premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) in adults: A systematic review protocol. F1000Research, 10, 1228.
2020 Jones, A. R., Tuckwell, C., Wright, I. M. R., Morrison, J. L., Kandasamy, Y., Wittwer, M. R., . . . Clifton, V. L. (2020). The impact of maternal asthma during pregnancy on offspring retinal microvascular structure and its relationship to placental growth factor production in utero. Microcirculation, 27(6), 1-10.
Scopus1 WoS12020 Wittwer, M. R., Zeitz, C., Beltrame, J. F., & Arstall, M. A. (2020). Providing a simple and consistent solution for the definition of in- vs. out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.. Resuscitation, 156, 51-52.
Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC12020 Plummer, M. D., Andraweera, P. H., Garrett, A., Leemaqz, S., Wittwer, M., Aldridge, E., . . . Roberts, C. T. (2020). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and later cardiovascular disease risk in mothers and children. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 12(4), 1-6.
Scopus2 WoS3 Europe PMC32020 Wittwer, M. R., Zeitz, C., Wu, S., Mishra, K., Rajendran, S., Beltrame, J. F., & Arstall, M. A. (2020). Cardiologists appropriately exclude resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from emergency coronary angiography. Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open, 1(6), 1177-1184.
2019 Aldridge, E., Mollen, J., Verburg, P., Wittwer, M., Dekker, G., Roberts, C., & Arstall, M. (2019). Agreement of aneroid and oscillometric blood pressure devices used in pregnancy. Pregnancy Hypertension, 17, 43-48.
Scopus3 WoS32015 Wittwer, M., Rajendran, S., Kealley, J., & Arstall, M. (2015). A South Australian registry of biphasic cardioversions of atrial arrhythmias: efficacy and predictors of success. Heart Lung and Circulation, 24(4), 342-347.
Scopus9 WoS7 Europe PMC4 -
Conference Items
Year Citation 2018 Clifton, V. L., Jones, A., Morrison, J., Wright, I. M. R., Kandasamy, Y., Wittwer, M. R., & Arstall, M. A. (2018). Maternal Asthma during Pregnancy is Associated with Altered Retinal Microvascular Structure in Childhood.. Poster session presented at the meeting of REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES. San Diego, CA: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC. 2017 Wittwer, M., Wu, S., Beltrame, J. F., Zeitz, C., & Arstall, M. A. (2017). Cardiologists Accurately Predict Resuscitated Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients That Do Not Require Immediate Cardiac Catheterisation. Poster session presented at the meeting of CIRCULATION. Anaheim, CA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2016 Wittwer, M., Chow, Y. Y., Dekker, G., Clifton, V., & Arstall, M. (2016). F5. Skin microvascular dysfunction in preeclampsia persists to the postpartum period. Poster session presented at the meeting of Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. Informa UK Limited.
Scopus12016 Chow, Y., Wittwer, M., Dekker, G., Clifton., & Arstall, V. M. (2016). E2. Preeclampsia is associated with persistent arterial stiffness into the postpartum period despite recovery of the vasoconstrictive state. Poster session presented at the meeting of Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. Informa UK Limited.
2016 Chow, Y., Wittwer, M., Dekker, G., Clifton., & Arstall, V. M. (2016). E2. Preeclampsia is associated with persistent arterial stiffness into the postpartum period despite recovery of the vasoconstrictive state. Poster session presented at the meeting of Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. Informa UK Limited.
2015 Wittwer, M. R., & Arstall, M. A. (2015). Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests Surviving to Hospital Admission: 5-Year Single-Centre Experience. Poster session presented at the meeting of 10th International Spark of Life Conference. 2015 Chow, Y. Y., Wittwer, M. R., Dekker, G., Clifton, V., & Arstall, M. A. (2015). Skin microvascular reactivity in preeclampsia. Poster session presented at the meeting of Microcirculation. Leura, NSW: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
2015 Chow, Y. Y., Mahadavan, D., Dekker, G., Warren, N., Wittwer, M., Clifton, V., & Arstall, M. (2015). O118. Subsequent preeclampsia is associated with worse subclinical left ventricular dysfunction. Poster session presented at the meeting of Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women's Cardiovascular Health. Elsevier BV.
2015 Wittwer, M. R., Chow, Y. Y., & Arstall, M. A. (2015). Women admitted to hospital after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have fewer culprit ‘ACS’ lesions on the coronary angiogram. Poster session presented at the meeting of Heart, Lung and Circulation. Melbourne Convention Centre: Elsevier.
2015 Abstracts from the 10th World Congress for Microcirculation (2015). Poster session presented at the meeting of Microcirculation. Wiley.
2012 Wittwer, M. R., Kealley, J., & Arstall, M. A. (2012). Biphasic Cardioversions of Atrial Tachyarrhythmias: The Role of High-Energy Defibrillators in a Local Hospital Setting. Poster session presented at the meeting of Heart, Lung and Circulation. Brisbane Convention Centre: Elsevier Inc..
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