What if a simple component replacement could jeopardize patient safety during surgery? Join us as we discuss critical anesthesia safety concerns with our special guest, Dr. Yuki Kuruma, an experienced anesthetist from Japan's Saiseikai Matsusaka General Hospital. Kuruma sheds light on the potential dangers of replacing CO2 absorbent canisters and the risk of hypoventilation caused by defective canisters. Reflecting on a significant 2013 incident involving a canister leak, we uncover why these is...
Dec 03, 2024•18 min•Ep. 231
What impact do communication failures have on anesthesia patient safety, particularly for those with limited English proficiency? Join us as we welcome anesthesiology resident, Dr. Yasuko Mano, who sheds light on this critical issue. Drawing from her personal experiences and research, Mano reveals how language barriers can lead to less patient-centered care and increased risks during high-pressure situations like medication reconciliation and obtaining informed consent. Through her insights, we ...
Nov 26, 2024•19 min•Ep. 230
What if the future of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) could be shorter, safer, and more effective? Uncover the latest insights into drug-eluting stents and how they are transforming how we think about dual-antiplatelet therapy. Join us as we examine the game-changing recommendations from top cardiology societies, which suggest that newer-generation stents can significantly reduce the duration of DAPT, particularly for patients with a high bleeding risk. Listen in as we dissect the innovative to...
Nov 19, 2024•18 min•Ep. 229
What if the future of cardiac care meant shorter duration of dual antiplatelet therapy without compromising safety? Join us as we explore this possibility with Dr. Joseph Szokol, a leading expert in clinical anesthesiology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Dr. Szokol shares his insights into the revolutionary advancements in drug-eluting stent technology, which are reshaping how we approach perioperative care and patient safety. With over 600,000 cardiac stents placed each year, this episod...
Nov 12, 2024•17 min•Ep. 228
Join us for an enlightening conversation with documentary filmmaker Mike Eisenberg, where we explore the transformative role of technology in patient safety, inspired by his acclaimed film "The Pitch." Discover how pioneers like Jeff Cooper have shaped anesthesia patient safety and learn how the world of aviation offers valuable lessons for the healthcare industry. We promise you'll gain insights into how embracing technological innovations can not only reduce complications and costs but also im...
Nov 05, 2024•30 min•Ep. 227
Documentary film director, Mike Eisenberg, shares his compelling journey from playing minor league baseball to directing films that change lives. Inspired by his late father, a prominent figure in patient safety, Eisenberg brings passion and insight to his exploration of patient safety in healthcare. His earlier work, "To Error is Human," laid the groundwork for a critical conversation on improving patient safety in healthcare systems. Now, Eisenberg introduces his sequel, "The Pitch," which con...
Oct 29, 2024•22 min•Ep. 226
Can anesthesia care for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impact patient safety during surgery? Join me, Alli Bechtel, as I unravel the complexities of managing anesthesia for OSA patients, drawing insights from experts like Mandeep Singh and his team, featured in the June 2024 APSF newsletter. This episode promises to enhance your understanding of the challenges and solutions in perioperative care for OSA patients, highlighting the importance of preoperative screening and the pressing...
Oct 22, 2024•20 min•Ep. 225
Wiretap laws might seem like a distant concern, but in the realm of clinical practice, they could be more relevant than you think. What if a simple audio recording could make or break your patient care approach? Join us as we unravel the complexities of wiretap regulations in healthcare with insights from Karolina Brook's enlightening APSF article, "Wiretap Laws: Relevance to Clinical Practice and Patient Safety." We'll explore how these laws differ across states, affecting everything from face-...
Oct 15, 2024•19 min•Ep. 224
Ever wondered how wiretap laws impact your daily clinical interactions and patient safety measures? Discover the complexities of these laws with insights from our guest, Dr. Karolina Brook, an anesthesiologist from Boston Medical Center. Join us on the Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast as we unravel the intricacies of one-party and all-party consent states, and explore how these decades-old statutes are more relevant than ever in our digital age. Dr. Brook shares her personal experiences of bein...
Oct 08, 2024•17 min•Ep. 223
Unlock the secrets to enhancing patient safety with our comprehensive discussion on the External Ventricular Drain (EVD) Safety Campaign. Ever wondered how to drastically reduce complications like ventriculitis? We promise you'll walk away with actionable insights, from the critical use of antimicrobial EVDs to the meticulous setup of devices by trained personnel under sterile conditions. We'll delve into essential preoperative steps such as patient history, neurological exams, and intracranial ...
Oct 01, 2024•18 min•Ep. 222
Curious about the best practices for managing patients with External Ventricular Drains (EVDs) during anesthesia and ICU transport? Join us as we talk to Dr. Abhijit Lele, a leading neuro-anesthesiologist and neuro-intensivist, who shares his expertise and personal journey from pediatrics to neuro-critical care. Discover the collaborative efforts between the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) and the Society for Neuroscience and Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) aimed at improvin...
Sep 24, 2024•15 min•Ep. 221
Curious about how to enhance patient safety with external ventricular drains or EVDs? Join us as we unravel the intricacies of EVDs and their pivotal role in perioperative care. With over 25,000 EVD placements annually in the United States, it's crucial for anesthesia and critical care professionals to master the management of these devices to prevent serious complications. We delve into the fundamentals of EVDs, covering their function, placement, and the common risks associated with their use....
Sep 17, 2024•17 min•Ep. 220
Unlock the secrets to improving anesthesia patient safety as we tackle the critical issue of intraoperative hypotension. Did you know that hypotension during surgery can lead to severe complications like acute kidney injury, myocardial injury, delirium, and stroke? Join us as we dissect recent studies, including one by Ariyarathna and colleagues linking high vasopressor use to kidney damage, and another by Chiu and colleagues on the dangers of limiting IV fluid administration. With expert insigh...
Sep 10, 2024•20 min•Ep. 219
Ever wondered about the dangers of low blood pressure during surgery? This episode features Amy Yerdon, a certified registered nurse anesthetist and assistant professor at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, who brings to light the critical issue of intraoperative hypotension. Alongside co-authors Matt Scherrer and Desiree Chappell, Yerdon underscores the often-overlooked consequences that patients face post-surgery due to intraoperative hypotension, including acute kidney injury, myocardial ...
Sep 03, 2024•18 min•Ep. 218
We are sharing the Residents in a Room Podcast episode #65 on Nontraditional Pathways - Leadership. Unlock the secrets of non-traditional leadership pathways within anesthesiology with Dr. Della Lin, a seasoned expert with over three decades of experience. Learn how Dr. Lin transitioned from a department chair to a speaker, healthcare think tank participant, and APSF board member, offering insights into leadership that go beyond titles. She reveals how behaviors that unite people and solve probl...
Aug 27, 2024•38 min
Discover the critical steps to safeguarding pediatric patients from opioid-induced respiratory depression in our latest episode featuring experts Tricia Vecchione and Constance Monitto. Learn about the paramount risk factors, such as age and co-morbidities like obstructive sleep apnea, that put young patients at increased risk. We’ll explore essential continuous monitoring strategies, emphasizing the importance of respiratory rate and pulse oximetry for those on parental opioids and patient-cont...
Aug 20, 2024•19 min•Ep. 216
How do we keep our youngest and most vulnerable patients safe from the deadly threat of opioid-induced respiratory depression? On this episode of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast, we uncover the answers with invaluable insights from pediatric anesthesiologist Dr. Connie Monitto. Dr. Monitto, along with co-author Tricia Vecchione, breaks down their June 2024 APSF newsletter article, highlighting the unique challenges of managing opioid-induced respiratory depression in children. Expect to le...
Aug 13, 2024•19 min
Can administering anesthesia to patients with concussions lead to complications? Join host, Alli Bechtel, as we unpack the pivotal findings from an insightful article by Arney Abcejo and Jeffrey Pasternak that was featured in the October 2018 APSF newsletter. This episode offers a comprehensive review of the clinical manifestations and challenges of providing anesthesia to recently concussed patients. Discover the prevalent causes of concussions, such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sport...
Aug 06, 2024•16 min
Can you imagine the horror of a medication mix-up between the overwrap and the infusion bag? In this episode, we tackle a crucial ISMP alert concerning a dangerous labeling error between dexmedetomidine and acetaminophen IV bags. Learn from a real-life case where this mistake led to a severe patient reaction, and discover essential steps to prevent such incidents in your practice. We'll cover best practices for barcode scanning, proper medication administration, and how to educate your team to e...
Jul 30, 2024•18 min•Ep. 213
Ensuring the safety of pediatric patients with sickle cell disease during anesthesia care can be a complex and demanding task, but what if you had a detailed roadmap to navigate this critical process? Join us as we unpack essential strategies based on the June 2024 APSF Article, “Preoperative Transfusion and Sickle Cell Disease in the Pediatric Patient” by Rahul Baijal, Priti Dalal, and Megha Kanjia, specifically tailored for pediatric anesthesia care. We break down the crucial factors like sick...
Jul 23, 2024•16 min•Ep. 212
Unlock the secrets to safeguarding pediatric patients with sickle cell disease during anesthesia. Join us for an enlightening discussion on the APSF article written by Dr. Megha Karkara Kanjia and Dr. Rahul Baijal, as they share their expertise on preoperative care strategies. Learn how to tailor transfusion plans uniquely for each child by considering critical factors such as sickle cell genotype, baseline hemoglobin, and surgical risk. This episode promises to arm you with evidence-based guide...
Jul 16, 2024•18 min•Ep. 211
Can the simple act of changing medication packaging save lives? On this week's Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast, we uncover the alarming truth about the recurrent and devastating error of inadvertent intrathecal tranexamic acid administration. This episode is a continuation of last week's urgent discussion, featuring insights from Elizabeth Rebello and colleagues, who stress system-focused solutions over human-reliant measures to tackle this critical patient safety issue. We dissect the human f...
Jul 09, 2024•19 min•Ep. 210
Join us on the Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast as we confront a critical patient safety issue: the recurring wrong drug, wrong route errors involving Tranexamic acid (TXA) and Bupivacaine. Elizabeth Rebello, an anesthesiologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, sheds light on this alarming trend where lookalike vials lead to catastrophic outcomes, including paralysis and death. Learn why this issue demands urgent action and the steps that are essential for anesthesia profes...
Jul 02, 2024•18 min•Ep. 209
Unlock the secrets of enhancing perioperative patient safety with insights from experts in anesthesiology and critical care. Join us as we welcome Dr. Debnath Chatterjee, the editor-in-chief of OpenAnesthesia, who sheds light on the incredible educational resources available on the platform. From peer-reviewed mini-reviews to engaging podcasts and vodcasts, discover how OpenAnesthesia is making a global impact, benefiting both trainees and seasoned clinicians. We are excited to share one of the ...
Jun 25, 2024•36 min•Ep. 208
Unlock the essential strategies for ensuring patient safety during anesthesia in the prone position! On this episode, host Alli Bechtel welcomes Taizoon Dhoon, an associate professor at the University of California, Irvine, who shares his expertise from his recent article in the APSF newsletter. Dhoon sheds light on the often-overlooked risks of prone positioning, detailing the physiological changes and positioning injuries that can arise. This discussion is a treasure trove of knowledge for ane...
Jun 18, 2024•16 min
What if the prone position during anesthesia is more hazardous than you think? Equip yourself with crucial knowledge about the overlooked risks and physiologic changes associated with prone positioning during surgery and procedures. This episode uncovers the some of the dangers such as peripheral nerve injuries, postoperative vision loss, and significant hemodynamic shifts that can endanger patient safety. Our discussion illuminates the necessity for anesthesia professionals to maintain heighten...
Jun 11, 2024•18 min•Ep. 206
Ever wondered about the underappredicated dangers of prone positioning during surgery? Join me, Alli Bechtel, as we navigate the complexities and risks of managing patients in this critical position. From pressure-related injuries to the eyes, nose, and shoulders, to nerve ischemia and shoulder dislocations, we'll cover it all. In this episode, inspired by Taizoon Dhoon and colleagues' article "The Underappreciated Dangers of the Prone Position," we’ll dissect the physiologic changes that can le...
Jun 04, 2024•17 min•Ep. 205
Discover the essential elements of a high-functioning anesthesia care team with our special guest Matthew Sherrer from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In an episode that could redefine your understanding of teamwork in healthcare, we delve into the phenomenon of 'trust fractures' and their profound impact on patient safety. The authors offer rich insights from his experience, drawing striking parallels between aviation disasters like Korean Air Flight 801 and the critical importance of ...
May 28, 2024•23 min
Discover how mastering situational awareness can revolutionize your approach to perioperative patient safety in our latest podcast episode. We are joined by David Tscholl, an esteemed anesthesiologist and researcher from the University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland who unveils critical findings from recent studies in this February 2024 APSF newsletter article. The shocking revelation that 80% of adverse events in anesthesia and critical care are due to errors in situational awareness underscor...
May 21, 2024•20 min
Embark on a journey through the interplay of teamwork, civility, and patient safety with our esteemed guests, Matt Sherrer and Mitch Tsai from the Fresh Flow podcast, and emergency medicine savant Chris Turner. The conversation navigates the treacherous waters of workforce shortages and academic anesthesiology pressures, unearthing strategies to foster a thriving professional climate where mutual respect reigns supreme. Feel the pulse of our professional interactions as we delve into reputation—...
May 14, 2024•44 min
