PICU Doc On Call

In this episode of *PICU Doc on Call*, Drs. Pradip Kamat and Rahul Damania dive into the topic of beta-blocker toxicity. They walk through a case of a 15-year-old who comes in with bradycardia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, and altered mental status after an intentional ingestion. Using a board-style question, they break down how to tell the difference between beta-blocker and calcium channel blocker poisoning and review key points about cardiac physiology and receptor signaling.Drs. Kamat and Damania discuss management strategies, including glucagon, high-dose insulin therapy, vasopressors, calcium, and ECMO as a last resort. They also spend some time focusing on specific agents like propranolol and sotalol, highlighting what makes their toxicologic profiles unique. This is a high-yield episode packed with pearls for pediatric intensivists!Show Highlights:Clinical case of a 15-year-old patient with bradycardia and hypotension due to intentional drug ingestionBeta-blocker toxicity and its clinical featuresDifferentiation between beta-blocker and calcium channel blocker toxicityKey physiological concepts related to cardiac action potentials and beta receptor functionClinical presentation and diagnostic workup for beta-blocker toxicityManagement strategies for beta blocker overdose, including airway control and fluid resuscitationSpecific toxicologic profiles of common beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol, sotalol, metoprolol)Importance of recognizing hypoglycemia and CNS effects in beta-blocker toxicitySummary of critical management steps and take-home points for pediatric intensivistsEncouragement for further learning and engagement on related topicsReferences:Fuhrman & Zimmerman - Textbook of Pediatric Critical Care Chapter 126. Toxidromes and their treatment. Joshi P. Pages 1504-1505Reference 1: Rogers textbook of Pediatric Intensive Care: Chapter 36: Poisoning. Nares M, Jeyapalan A, Weisman R: pages 525-543Reference 2: Lavonas EJ, Akpunonu PD, Arens AM, Babu KM, Cao D, Hoffman RS, Hoyte CO, Mazer-Amirshahi ME, Stolbach A, St-Onge M, Thompson TM, Wang GS, Hoover AV, Drennan IR; American Heart Association. 2023 American Heart Association Focused Update on the Management of Patients With Cardiac Arrest or Life-Threatening Toxicity Due to Poisoning: An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2023 Oct 17;148(16):e149-e184. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001161. Epub 2023 Sep 18. PMID: 37721023.Suarez F, Koyfman A, Long B. Pearls and Pitfalls for the Emergency Clinician: Beta Blocker and Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity. J Emerg Med. 2026 May;84:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2026.01.021. Epub 2026 Jan 27. PMID: 41833262.

In this episode of PICU Doc on Call, third-year PICU fellow Dr. Alexandria Edwards joins Drs. Pradip Kamat, Monica Gray, and Rahul Damania for a quick and practical dive into pediatric transport medicine. Dr. Edwards walks us through her go-to framework for handling transport calls, highlighting the importance of systematically checking vitals, respiratory support, the physical exam, labs, and any interventions. The team uses a real-life case of a 12-year-old with severe status asthmaticus to talk through how to pick the right transport mode, why it’s best to avoid intubation if you can, and how to make sure you’re on the same page with the ICU team before the patient arrives. The main message? Build a solid, structured approach to transport calls and practice it every time.Show Highlights:Overview of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) fellowship and trainingImportance of transport medicine in the PICU settingFramework for handling transport calls effectivelyKey considerations for assessing patient stability during transportImportance of vital signs and current patient status in decision-makingStrategies for communicating with referring providersDiscussion of a specific case involving a pediatric patient with asthma exacerbationDecision-making process for mode of transport (ground vs. air)Role of critical care transport teams in patient transferTips for preparing the receiving ICU team for incoming patientsWe welcome your feedback and reviews. Please visit our website at https://picudoconcall.org/, where you can find our episodes.

In this episode, Drs. Pradip Kamat, Monica Gray, and Rahul Damania talk through a heartbreaking case involving a 14-year-old girl with a history of psychiatric illness who intentionally took 45 tablets of metformin and empagliflozin. Things went downhill quickly—she developed severe lactic acidosis, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, and eventually suffered a cardiac arrest that required ECMO and continuous dialysis. Sadly, even with the most aggressive care, she didn’t make it. The doctors walk listeners through the pharmacology and toxicity of metformin and empagliflozin, discuss how these drugs can cause harm, and share key management strategies. They really stress the importance of early recognition, using extracorporeal therapies, and working as a multidisciplinary team when dealing with severe pediatric overdoses of antidiabetic medications.Show Highlights:Case study of a 14-year-old girl with intentional ingestion of an oral antidiabetic agentPresentation of severe lactic acidosis, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, and cardiac arrestDiscussion of the pharmacology and toxicology of metformin and empagliflozinMechanisms of metformin toxicity and its effects on metabolic processesDifferentiation between types of lactic acidosis related to metforminImportance of early recognition and management of metformin toxicitySupportive care strategies for managing severe metformin overdoseRole of extracorporeal therapies, including ECMO and dialysis, in treatmentMultidisciplinary approach involving intensivists, nephrologists, and toxicologistsClinical implications and outcomes of severe metformin toxicity in pediatric patientsResources:Fuhrman & Zimmerman - Textbook of Pediatric Critical Care Chapter: Nothing foundReference 1: Noites I, Figueiredo M, Shchomak Z, Boto L, Camilo C. Fatal Pediatric Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis: When Severity Goes Unnoticed. Cureus. 2026 Feb 16;18(2):e103719.Reference 2: Bebarta VS, Pead J, Varney SM. Lacticemia After Acute Overdose of Metformin in an Adolescent Managed Without Intravenous Sodium Bicarbonate or Extracorporeal Therapy. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2015 Aug;31(8):589-90.

In this episode of *Pediatric Critical Care Insights*, Dr. Monica Gray and Dr. Pradip Kamat chat about how capnography, specifically end-tidal CO2 monitoring, is used in the pediatric ICU. They walk through a real-life case of a 9-year-old with respiratory failure from influenza A, showing how ETCO2 monitoring helps confirm endotracheal tube placement, guides ventilation, spots cardiac arrest, and even helps assess the quality of CPR. Along the way, they break down how to interpret capnography waveforms, discuss different types of devices, and explain the key physiological concepts. The episode is packed with practical, bedside tips for intensivists caring for critically ill kids.Show Highlights:Importance of capnography (end-tidal CO2 monitoring) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)Clinical case study of a 9-year-old boy with respiratory failure due to influenza AUse of capnography for confirming endotracheal tube placement and assessing ventilation statusDetection of cardiac arrest and guidance for CPR quality through ETCO2 monitoringOverview of capnography physics and physiology, including terminology distinctionsTypes of capnography: mainstream vs. sidestream, and their applications in pediatric patientsAssumptions for accurate ETCO2 approximation of arterial CO2 and conditions affecting this relationshipAnalysis of capnography waveform phases and their clinical significancePrognostic value of ETCO2 during cardiac arrest and its correlation with patient outcomesPractical applications of ETCO2 monitoring in critical care, focusing on airway, breathing, and circulation managementReferences:Noninvasive respiratory monitoring and assessment of gas exchange. David F. Butler; Kenneth A. Schenkman. Fuhrman and Zimmerman's Pediatric Critical Care, 43, 483-491.e3Humphreys S, Schibler A, von Ungern-Sternberg BS. Carbon dioxide monitoring in children—A narrative review of physiology, value, and pitfalls in clinical practice. Pediatr Anaesth. 2021;31:839–845. https://doi.org/10.1111/pan.14208Lasa JJ, Dhillon GS, Duff JP, et al. Part 8: Pediatric Advanced Life Support: 2025 American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Pediatrics. 2026;157(1):e2025074351O'Flaherty. Capnography: principles and practice. London: BMJ Publishing Group; 1994.Aminiahidashti H, Shafiee S, Zamani Kiasari A, Sazgar M. Applications of End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide (ETCO2) Monitoring in Emergency Department; a Narrative Review. Emerg (Tehran). 2018;6(1):e5. Epub 2018 Jan 15. PMID: 29503830; PMCID: PMC5827051.

In this special episode of *PICU Doc on Call*, hosts Dr. Monica Gray and Dr. Rahul Damania welcome new pediatric critical care fellows across the U.S. with practical advice for day one of fellowship. Joined by third-year PICU fellow Dr. Alexandra Bryant, the episode covers three key areas: navigating PICU logistics, protecting mental health, and managing the overwhelming volume of critical care knowledge. Dr. Bryant shares candid insights from her own training journey, offering actionable strategies for success. The hosts remind listeners that fellowship is a learning process and that new fellows can make a meaningful impact.Show HighlightsIntroduction to pediatric critical care fellowship for new fellows and learnersKey insights and advice for first-year fellows in pediatric intensive careImportance of understanding logistics in the PICU environmentStrategies for effective communication and collaboration within the PICU teamManaging mental health and self-care during fellowshipTechniques for absorbing and retaining vast knowledge in pediatric critical careRecommendations for organizing study materials and resourcesEmphasis on lifelong learning and accessing information effectivelyPractical tips for time management and responsibility organizationSuggested resources for mindfulness and emotional support in medical trainingResource:PICU Doc on Call Episode 31