Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast
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.
Episodes
265 episodes
#265 The Breakthrough Drug Changing Perioperative Pain Management
A revolution in pain management has arrived. The FDA's approval of Suzetrigine in January 2025 introduces the first non-opioid analgesic for moderate to severe pain in over twenty years. This breakthrough medication targets the voltage-gated so...
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Episode 265
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15:22
#264 Rethinking Resuscitation in the Operating Room: Beyond ACLS
Cardiac arrest in the operating room presents unique challenges that standard Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) protocols simply were not designed to address. This eye-opening exploration with APSF author, Zachary Smith, reveals why t...
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15:40
#263 Blood Pressure Blind Spots
The standard of care for monitoring blood pressure during surgery hasn't changed in nearly 40 years, despite technological advances that could prevent serious complications and save lives. This eye-opening episode takes listeners inside a recen...
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Episode 263
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1:12:31
#262 Medical Literature Deep Dive: From Infant Intubation to GLP-1 Agonist Risks and More
Ready for a refreshing summer dive into the latest anesthesia safety research? This episode explores three groundbreaking studies that could transform perioperative practice and patient outcomes.First, we examine a fascinating randomize...
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Episode 262
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15:54
#261 Patient Safety Challenges: From Global Cosmetic Tourism to Pediatric Medication Dosing
Navigating the complex landscape of patient safety requires vigilance, knowledge, and adaptability. Today's episode takes us on a journey through two critical safety concerns that exemplify the challenges anesthesiologists face in diverse clini...
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Episode 261
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15:48
#260 OpenAnesthesia and the APSF: Achieving Safe and Quality Anesthesia Care with Education Innovation
Dr. Elizabeth Malinzak takes us behind the scenes of a fascinating educational initiative bridging knowledge gaps in anesthesiology. As a pediatric anesthesiologist at Duke University and liaison between the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation...
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29:33
#259 Every Move Matters: Why Transport Safety Can Save Your Critical Patients
Intrahospital transport of critically ill patients presents significant safety risks that can be mitigated through proper guidelines, checklists, and handoffs between care teams. The episode examines transport-related adverse events and complic...
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Episode 259
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18:29
#258 Wheels of Risk: When Patient Safety Rolls Through Hospital Corridors
The journey between hospital departments can be the most dangerous part of a patient's perioperative experience. This eye-opening episode dives deep into the hidden risks of intra-hospital patient transport. We examine the current literature on...
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Episode 258
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16:10
#257 Sweet Trouble: Perioperative Management of SGLT2 Inhibitors
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have revolutionized treatment for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease—but they're creating new challenges for anesthesia professionals. With more patients on these medicat...
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Episode 257
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20:05
#256 Skin in the Game: A Fresh Flow Podcast Takeover
This is a Fresh Flow Podcast Takeover Show. The need for strong leadership in anesthesiology has never been more crucial. Join us as we discuss structured mentorship programs and the skills required to develop effective leaders in anesthesia. D...
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Episode 256
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40:50
#255 What You Need to Know Before Going Under
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 comm...
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Episode 255
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27:18
#254 The Patient's Guide to Anesthesia and Surgery
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-operat...
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Episode 254
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17:24
#253 When Electrocautery Meets Implanted Devices: What Every Anesthesia Professional Needs to Know
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...
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Episode 253
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19:57
#252 Managing Neurologic Stimulators: A Critical Guide for Safe Anesthesia
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.
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Episode 252
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18:19
#251 Surgical Fires: The 30% Oxygen Rule
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 dec...
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Episode 251
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16:11
#250 Sugammadex in Special Populations: What Every Anesthesia Professional Needs to Know
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.
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Episode 250
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18:58
#249 Sugammadex Safety: Special Populations, Special Concerns
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...
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Episode 249
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16:48
#248 Beyond the Mask: An OpenAnesthesia Collaboration on Perioperative Drug Safety
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...
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Episode 248
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16:35
#247 Nudge Your Way to Greener Pediatric Anesthesia
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 Hospit...
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Episode 247
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13:44
#246 Ditching Nitrous Oxide: The Bike Commuter's Guide to Safe and Sustainable Anesthesia
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 e...
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Episode 246
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18:21
#245 Unmasking Medical Misinformation
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 inac...
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Episode 245
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15:13
#244 Battling Myths and Misinformation: Ensuring Patient Safety in Anesthesia
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 communicat...
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Episode 244
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15:12
#243 Unlocking Insights for Safer Anesthesia: Key Findings from the Literature and a Case Report
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 rec...
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Episode 243
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16:56
#242 Enhancing Anesthesia Patient Safety: Literature Reviews, Guidelines, and Recommendations
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 anesthesi...
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Episode 242
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19:33
#241 The Impact of ISO 80369-6 Neuraxial Connectors: Patient Safety Challenges and Opportunities
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...
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Episode 241
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19:30