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© 2025 Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast
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The official podcast of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) is hosted by Alli Bechtel, MD, featuring the latest information and news in perioperative and anesthesia patient safety. The APSF podcast is intended for anesthesiologists, anesthetists, clinicians and other professionals with an interest in anesthesiology, and patient safety advocates around the world.
The Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast delivers the best of the APSF Newsletter and website directly to you, so you can listen on the go! This includes some of the most important COVID-19 information on airway management, ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), drug information, and elective surgery recommendations.
Don't forget to check out APSF.org for the show notes that accompany each episode, and email us at podcast@APSF.org with your suggestions for future episodes. Visit us at APSF.org/podcast and at @APSForg on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
255 Episodes
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Fear of the unknown is one of the most significant sources of anxiety for surgical patients. What exactly happens when we're "put under"? Could we wake up during surgery? What side effects should we expect? Our latest episode tackles these common concerns by exploring the APSF's Patient Guide to Anesthesia and Surgery. We walk through a simulated pre-surgical consultation, addressing the questions that weigh heaviest on patients' minds. We also explore factors affecting wake-up time, from me...
Fear of the unknown can make surgery and anesthesia unnecessarily stressful. Approximately 90% of patients experience some degree of anxiety about "going under" before their procedure – worrying about pain, waking during surgery, or post-operative grogginess. But what if patients had reliable answers to their most pressing questions? The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation has developed a groundbreaking resource to address this need. In this episode, we introduce the Patient Guide to Anesth...
The safe management of non-cardiac implantable electrical devices during surgery requires careful planning and knowledge of device-specific considerations. We continue our discussion from last week with actionable recommendations for each stage of perioperative care. • Electrocautery poses significant risks including device reprogramming, thermal burns, and damage to neural tissue • Turn off devices or set to safe surgery mode before using electrocautery • Bipolar cautery is safer than mono...
The podcast explores comprehensive recommendations for managing patients with non-cardiac implantable electrical devices during surgical procedures, emphasizing preoperative assessment, device interaction prevention, and safety protocols. • Types of devices include vagal nerve stimulators, deep brain stimulators, and spinal cord stimulators • Preoperative evaluation is crucial for identifying devices and contacting managing clinicians • Algorithm provided for assessing potential interactions...
Surgical fires are devastating yet entirely preventable events that continue to occur in operating rooms around the world. This eye-opening episode features biomedical engineer Mark Bruley and anesthesiologist Dr. Jeffrey Feldman, who share decades of expertise investigating and preventing these catastrophic incidents. The conversation reveals why the seemingly simple recommendation to limit open oxygen delivery to 30% is so critical for patient safety. Through forensic investigations and la...
Sugammadex safety considerations span across patient populations with renal impairment, pediatric patients, and pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, requiring nuanced clinical decision-making based on current evidence and ongoing research. • Sugammadex reversal of moderate blockade is safe and faster than using neostigmine/cisatracurium for patients with renal impairment • Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring is essential to ensure adequate reversal (TOF >90%) • FDA approval exists for...
Discover the critical safety considerations when using Sugammadex, the seemingly "magical" neuromuscular blockade reversal agent that's fundamentally changed anesthesia practice. We delve deep into the science behind this medication and examine its use in three challenging patient populations: those with renal failure, pregnant patients, and pediatric patients. For patients with kidney dysfunction, we explore the fascinating pharmacokinetics of Sugammadex and how its primarily renal excretio...
Medication safety remains a cornerstone of anesthesia practice with complex environments and high-stakes decisions requiring vigilant attention to prevent errors. This collaboration between APSF and OpenAnesthesia spotlights critical aspects of perioperative drug safety with practical insights from Dr. Juan Li, a cardiothoracic anesthesia fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. • Perioperative anaphylaxis requires immediate recognition of cardiovascular, respiratory, and cutaneous ma...
Climate change has arrived in the operating room, and pediatric anesthesiologists are taking action. Dr. Eva Lu-Boettcher, pediatric anesthesiologist and Director of Anesthesia Quality and Safety at the University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital, shares her journey toward sustainable anesthesia after witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change—including her Wisconsin community experiencing the world's worst air quality from wildfires. The healthcare sector contributes a staggering 8%...
Dr. Liz Hansen takes us behind the scenes of a remarkable transformation at Seattle Children's Hospital, where pediatric anesthesiologists have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by over 90% without compromising patient safety. A lifelong environmentalist and bike commuter, Dr. Hansen was shocked to discover that anesthesia gases contributed to 7% of her hospital's total emissions. This revelation sparked a personal and professional journey to align her clinical practice with her environm...
In our latest episode, we dive headfirst into the growing issue of medical misinformation and its alarming effect on anesthesia patient safety. As patients increasingly turn to social media for health information, the risks of encountering inaccurate content have soared, posing challenges for healthcare professionals. Join us as we explore a recent article by George Tewfik and Raymond Malapero from the February 2025 APSF Newsletter, focusing on how misinformation can threaten patient safety,...
Join us as we dive into the critical topic of medical misinformation and its alarming impact on patient safety, particularly in the field of anesthesia. In this compelling episode, we unpack how misconceptions shape patient trust and communication with healthcare providers. Our conversation features insightful commentary from Dr. George Tewfik, who highlights real-world examples of how misinformation spreads and influences patient decisions. The rapid rise of social media as a primary ...
This episode delves into key findings in the literature, focusing on the nuances of neuromuscular blockade in pediatric patients and novel advancements in intubation techniques to enhance patient safety. We explore significant insights from recent studies that highlight age-related differences in recovery times from neuromuscular blockade and practical recommendations. We also discuss a novel flexible stylet for intubation and the implications of intravenous catheter design during emergency n...
Feeling overwhelmed about staying up to date with the anesthesia literature? We hope you will check out the APSF's In The Literature section. This resource brings you straightforward summaries of recent high-impact articles related to anesthesia patient safety. This episode highlights crucial updates in the literature concerning diabetes management, the impact of fatigue on anesthesia professionals, research about GLP-1 receptor agonists, and the use of methadone for next-day discharge surger...
This episode discusses the implementation of ISO 80369-6 neuraxial connectors in Japan, analyzing the challenges faced and the implications for patient safety. The conversation highlights the importance of clinician involvement and the need for clear communication and trials during the transition to new medical standards. • Overview of ISO 80369-6 and its significance in anesthesia care • Challenges faced in Japan during the implementation of new connectors • Historical context of the LOR co...
The episode explores the challenges and lessons learned from Japan's recent implementation of ISO 80369-6 standards in anesthesia practices, highlighting the critical importance of clinician involvement in developing safety protocols. We discuss the historical context, issues with communication, and various complications arising from the transition to new safety standards. • Importance of ISO standards in enhancing patient safety • Role of clinician input in developing safety protocols • ...
Unlock the potential to save lives with our exciting discussion on the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation's Technology Education Initiative course. Featuring Dr. Michael Kazior, an esteemed anesthesiologist and intensivist, we spotlight the crucial skills of manual external defibrillation, cardioversion, and pacing. Dr. Kazior shares his personal journey and highlights the stark educational gaps in defibrillator usage among anesthesia professionals. This course, born from the collaboration ...
Can we significantly reduce pediatric medication errors in anesthesia care? This podcast episode explores the urgent need to address medication errors in pediatric anesthesia, highlighting effective strategies to improve patient safety. We discuss the implementation of tools such as the Anesthesia Medication Template, pre-filled syringes, and barcode scanning systems, as well as insights from experts on enhancing current practices. • Examination of medication error statistics in pediatric an...
Unlock the secrets of preventing pediatric perioperative medication errors with insights from our esteemed guests, Eva Lu-Boettcher and Rahul Koka. Pediatric patients face unique challenges due to variations in body weight and dosing calculations, making them particularly vulnerable to medication errors. Join us as we explore the discrepancies between self-reported and observed error rates and gain a deeper understanding of the workflow vulnerabilities anesthesia professionals encounter. We a...
What if a simple change in routine could save lives in the operating room? Join us as we explore this possibility with Jonathan Charnin, who shares his expertise and passion for improving hand hygiene practices in anesthesia. Hand hygiene may seem like a small detail, but it plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of pathogens and reducing surgical site infections. We'll unravel the complexities behind implementing effective hand hygiene protocols and discuss the obstacles and opportun...
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