Today, we go back to take a close look at one of ANZCA's latest professional documents - PG67: Guideline for the care of patients at the end-of-life who are considered for surgery or interventional procedures 2022. Resources for this episode: PG67: Guideline for the care of patients at the end-of-life who are considered for surgery or interventional procedures 2022 PG67 BP: Guideline for the care of patients at the end-of-life who are considered for surgery or interventional procedures Backgroun...
Jun 29, 2025•26 min•Season 10Ep. 4
Today, we look back at a fantastic and insightful discussion about upper limb regional anaesthesia with special guest, Dr Michael Kerr. If you liked this episode, you can find the second part of this episode in season 5, episode 12. In this episode, part 1, we focus on the interscalene block. Resources for today's episode: Anatomy of the brachial plexus and its implications for daily clinical practice: regional anesthesia is applied anatomy by G.C. Feigl et. al. Video: The Infraclavicular Block ...
Jun 01, 2025•28 min•Season 10Ep. 3
Today, we revisit a topic that was recommended to us by Dr David Tragen of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital - the perioperative management of the direct oral anticoagulant medications or DOACs. We start with some basic revision of the mechanism of action of the DOACs and their indications before diving more closely into the recommendations for stopping and starting these medications around the time of surgery, and the implications for our anaesthetic. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspo...
May 18, 2025•30 min•Season 10Ep. 2
Deep Breaths will return this year with a slightly different twist. We're taking a little break, but that doesn't mean we've forgotten about our wonderful listeners! We'll be recording the occasional new episode with guest interviewees that we're excited to be chatting with. We're also going to be re-releasing some of our best episodes. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. We love hearing from you! And don't forget to claim CPD for...
May 05, 2025•2 min
In today's episode, we revisit challenges in the diagnosis and management of oesophageal intubation and anaesthetic crises in general. Recognising an oesophageal intubation may seem simple, but by looking at coroner's cases both here in Australia and in the UK, as well as cases in the NAP4, it can be far more complex. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. We love hearing from you! And don't forget to claim CPD for listening if you a...
Apr 27, 2025•28 min•Season 10Ep. 1
So get ready for something a little different... this week's episode was recorded live from the ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting 2024, in our home city of Brisbane, Australia. We interviewed some fascinating guests, covering topics as diverse as the role of the college moving forward, how we can be more sustainable in anaesthesia, and the future of podcasting; and we had plenty of fun along the way. Enjoy this interactive and entertaining discussion with Dr Chris Cokis, Professor David Story, Pro...
Nov 03, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 9Ep. 7
Today's episode is the second of our two part series on ruptured AAA repairs. We discuss the case of a 72 year old man with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm that is contained, and who is scheduled for an urgent endovascular repair within the interventional radiology suite with special guest, Dr Lahiru Amaratunge. Apologies for the audio quality in this episode - even though it sounds like we recorded on a submarine, we can assure you we were sitting in our study the entire time. Resources fo...
Oct 20, 2024•34 min•Season 9Ep. 6
Today - in part 1 of our 2 part series - we talk through the case of an 82 year old man with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm who is scheduled for urgent open repair with special guest, Dr Lahiru Amaratunge. Resources for today's episode: BJAED: Anaesthesia for endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms by K. Berry et al. LITFL: AAA by C. Nickson Lancet: Endovascular versus open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in 15-years' follow-up of the UK endovascular aneurysm repair ...
Oct 06, 2024•31 min•Season 9Ep. 5
In today's episode, we cover the recently released consensus clinical practice recommendation regarding the peri-procedural use of the GLP-1 and GIP receptor antagonists. Enjoy this topical episode - this is sure to be an evolving area. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. We love hearing from you! And don't forget to claim CPD for listening if you are a consultant or fellow. Log us as a learning session which you can find within t...
Sep 22, 2024•23 min•Season 9Ep. 4
This week we're under the pump with work and life, but we'll be with you soon and it's a cracker of an episode covering an extremely topical subject. Keep an eye out for our next episode dropping something in the next couple of weeks. As an apology, we'll have a bonus ep coming sometime towards the end of the season! Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. We love hearing from you! And don't forget to claim CPD for listening if you ar...
Sep 09, 2024•25 sec
Today's episode is the final in our series on inotropic and vasopressor medications. Today, we're going to tackle some of the more obscure inotropes and vasopressors - these medications typically aren't encountered terribly often within anaesthesia. During this episode, we discuss milrinone, levosimendan, methylene blue and hydroxocobalamin (Vitamin B12). Resources for today's episode: StatPearls: Inotropes and vasopressors by D. VanValkinburgh et al. Adrenergic Drugs by K. Farzam et al. LITFL: ...
Aug 25, 2024•17 min•Season 9Ep. 3
Today's episode - the second in our three episode series focusing on inotropic and vasopressor medications - sees us covering some more medications commonly (or uncommonly, depending on your scope of practice) encountered within anaesthesia. During this episode, we discuss vasopressin, dopamine and dobutamine. Resources for today's episode: StatPearls: Inotropes and vasopressors by D. VanValkinburgh et al. Adrenergic Drugs by K. Farzam et al. LITFL: Inotropes, vasopressors and other vasoactive a...
Aug 11, 2024•15 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Today's episode is the first in a series of three that focus on inotropic and vasopressor medications used within anaesthetic practice. During this episode, we discuss metaraminol, ephedrine, phenylephrine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. There's one section of our episode where we thought it important to clarify what we're saying, as to out ears it sounds a little confusing. During our discussion about adrenaline, we state that both noradrenaline and adrenaline have the same affinity for beta-1 a...
Jul 28, 2024•15 min•Season 9Ep. 1
Today, we discuss a 2023 BJA Education article titled 'Perioperative care for transgender and gender diverse adults'. We start with a discussion of words and terms that are useful to understand, before diving in to discussions about a trauma-informed care approach to minimise and hopefully eradicate negative preoperative experiences, physical, chemical and surgical options for gender affirmation, and lastly how this can inform the provision of safe anaesthesia for transgender patients. Resources...
Jun 09, 2024•24 min•Season 8Ep. 10
Today, in part 2 of our 2 part series on anaesthesia for previous heart transplant recipients, we discuss the care of these patients for non-cardiac surgery with special guest, Dr Ivan Rapchuk. We begin by covering the electrophysiology of a transplanted heart and what you may see on the ECG, and then proceed to the management of our theoretical patient for general anaesthesia for non-cardiac surgery. Resources for this episode: Oxford Handbook of Transplant Anaesthesia and Critical Care BJAED: ...
May 26, 2024•24 min•Season 8Ep. 9
Today, in part 1 of our 2 part series on anaesthesia for previous heart transplant recipients, we discuss the care of these patients for non-cardiac surgery with special guest, Dr Ivan Rapchuk. We start our discussion with a review of how to assess whether these patients are suitable for elective surgery, and follow this with a deep-dive on the typical immunosuppressant medications that these patients may be taking, as well as their mechanism of action and side effects. Resources for this episod...
May 12, 2024•20 min•Season 8Ep. 8
Today, we discuss the rise of GLP-1 receptor agonists - what they are, how they work, and how they affect fasting during the perioperative period. Resources for today's episode: StatPearls: Physiology, Gastrointestinal Hormonal Control by Parikh, A. & Thevenin, C. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537284/ StatPearls: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists by Collins, L. & Costello, R. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551568/ ANZCA PG07(A) Appendix https://www.anzca.edu.au/get...
Apr 29, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 7
It's taken almost a year, but we're finally giving you part 2 of our series on complex and uncommon cardiac conditions for non-cardiac surgery with special guest, Dr Shaun Roberts. Hold on to your earphones - this episode is a long one! If you haven't listened to part one, you can find it within season 6 - be sure to check it out before you listen to part 2. Today, we discuss anaesthesia for patient's with ventricular assist devices (or VADs), and we talk about providing anaesthetic care for a p...
Apr 14, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 8Ep. 6
Today, we take a close look at the SNACC guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of neuroanaesthetic emergencies, and take a little time to discuss each of these emergencies in turn. Resources for the episode: Cognitive aids for the diagnosis and treatment of neuroanaesthetic emergencies: Consensus guidelines on behalf of the Society for Neuroscience in Anaesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) education committee by Hoefnagel, A.L. et al. (full journal article) SNACC cognitive aids for neuro...
Mar 31, 2024•33 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Today, in part two of our two part series looking at perioperative hypotension and acute kidney injury (AKI), we take a closer look at the methods we can adopt - as anaesthetists - to try to prevent perioperative AKI and the evidence of their effectiveness in preventing this complication. Resources for today's episode: BJA: Role of perioperative hypotension in postoperative acute kidney injury: a narrative review (sciencedirectassets.com) by Lankadeva, Y. et al. KDIGO 2012 Acute Kidney Injury Gu...
Mar 17, 2024•18 min•Season 8Ep. 4
Today, in part one of our two part series looking at perioperative hypotension and acute kidney injury (AKI), we take a close look at the diagnostic criteria for acute kidney injury. We then briefly revise aspects of renal physiology that make the kidney particularly susceptible to hypoxic injury, as well as looking at risk factors and other facets of anaesthesia that additionally predispose the kidney to perioperative injury. In part two - which will be released in a fortnight - we will take a ...
Mar 03, 2024•16 min
Today we continue our discussion regarding preoperative functional capacity assessment. We'll cover the M-DASI, the 6-minute walk test, and put it all together to figure out how this applies to our practice as anaesthetists. Resources for today's episode include: BJAED: Subjective methods for preoperative assessment of functional capacity by Silvapulle & Darvall BJA: A simplified (modified) Duke Activity Status Index (M-DASI) to characterise functional capacity: a secondary analysis of the M...
Feb 18, 2024•13 min•Season 8Ep. 2
Today, in part one of our two part series, we're taking a close look at the methods for performing pre-operative functional capacity assessments and their utility in predicting patient outcomes. In part 1, we focus our discussion on METS, activities of daily living (ADLs) and the DASI score. In part two - which will be released in a fortnight - we'll cover the M-DASI, the 6-minute walk test. Resources for today's episode: BJAED: Subjective methods for preoperative assessment of functional capaci...
Feb 04, 2024•14 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Deep Breaths returns next Monday February 5th with all new episode topics that we're sure will help with exam prep, and will keep your practice up to date. We'll also be joined by more wonderful guests this season and we can't wait to share their expertise with you all, so be sure to tune in and experience the learning revolution! Links for Lahiru Amaratunge's ANZCA Part 2 exam programs: Viva Boot Camp Courses (via Anaesthesia Collective) Online Part 2 Preparation Courses and ABCs of Anaesthesia...
Jan 28, 2024•5 min
Part 2 of our two-part series looking at common problems encountered in the post-anaesthetic care unit. We hope you enjoy another of our favourite topics. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. We love hearing from you! And don't forget to claim CPD for listening if you are a consultant or fellow. Log us as a learning session which you can find within the knowledge and skills division, and as evidence upload a screenshot of the podca...
Nov 06, 2023•28 min•Season 7Ep. 11
This two part series looks at some common problems we encounter in the post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU). It's another of our favourite topics and well worth the review. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. We love hearing from you! And don't forget to claim CPD for listening if you are a consultant or fellow. Log us as a learning session which you can find within the knowledge and skills division, and as evidence upload a screensh...
Nov 06, 2023•25 min•Season 7Ep. 10
The final episode on our two-part series on cases in paediatric anaesthesia with special guest, Dr Paul Lee-Archer. Another of our favourites, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Resources for today's episode: Emergence delirium after paediatric anaesthesia: new strategies in avoidance and treatment by Nair, S. & Wolf, A. Paediatric massive transfusion by Blain, S. & Paterson, N. Dilemmas in the preoperative assessment of children by Bhatia, N. & Barber, N. Feel free to email us ...
Oct 22, 2023•40 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Our two-part series on paediatrics in which we discuss previous anaesthetic viva scenarios with special guest, Dr Paul Lee-Archer, is another favourite of ours. Resources for today's episode: Emergence delirium after paediatric anaesthesia: new strategies in avoidance and treatment by Nair, S. & Wolf, A. Paediatric massive transfusion by Blain, S. & Paterson, N. Dilemmas in the preoperative assessment of children by Bhatia, N. & Barber, N. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmai...
Oct 22, 2023•36 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Our second and final episode in our two-part series looking at cases involving one-lung ventilation with special guest, Dr Ivan Rapchuk. This series is one of our favourites! Resources for today's episode: Pre-anaesthetic assessment for thoracic surgery by Peter Slinger and Gail Darling. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. We love hearing from you! And don't forget to claim CPD for listening if you are a consultant or fellow. Log ...
Oct 08, 2023•30 min•Season 7Ep. 7
One lung ventilation can be tricky, but our two part series with special guest Dr Ivan Rapchuk, attempts to break it down and make it easier to both approach and understand. This series is another favourite! Resources for this episode: Pre-anaesthetic assessment for thoracic surgery by Peter Slinger and Gail Darling. Feel free to email us at deepbreathspod@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. We love hearing from you! And don't forget to claim CPD for listening if you ar...
Oct 08, 2023•30 min•Season 7Ep. 6
