Recorded at the Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2025 in London, this piece focuses upon pioneering work in ambulatory surgical care and enhanced recovery pathways. Presented by Andy Cumpstey with his guest Dr. Anoushka Afonso, Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), where she is the Director of Enhanced Recovery Program. Hear how standardized care protocols, non-opioid analgesia, and real-time locating systems h...
Aug 11, 2025•14 min
Recorded at the Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress in London this piece dives into the importance of metabolic flexibility in perioperative care. We discuss the prevalence of metabolic inflexibility in patients undergoing surgery and its impact on postoperative complications alongside insights from recent studies and potential future interventions, emphasizing the importance of recognizing metabolic inflexibility as an important factor in clinical practice. The conversa...
Aug 04, 2025•28 min
Broadcasting from the Evidence-based Perioperative Medicine World Congress in London, UK, TopMedTalk takes you behind the scenes to the conference conversations that matter. This episode delves into the importance of diversity in perioperative medicine, the patient-centred approach, the challenges of integrating multidisciplinary care, and the future of healthcare across different countries. Our guests share their experiences, challenges and strategies in implementing holistic, patient-focused c...
Jul 28, 2025•32 min
TopMedTalk's Andy Cumpstey continues our coverage of the hugely successful Evidence-Based Perioperative Medicine (EPBOM) World Congress in London. Here we dive deep into the realm of patient monitoring, exploring the use of wearable sensors and advanced algorithms for early detection and preventive care in hospital environments. Learn about ongoing research, innovation challenges, and prospective trials aiming to enhance patient care and safety. A comprehensive discussion on the future of health...
Jul 21, 2025•32 min
The final instalment of our series “Perioperative Pain Management” is a panel discussion where we answer the question: What are the various challenges and strategies in managing perioperative pain, particularly with regard to opioid use? The discussion covers the complexities of opioid de-escalation in preoperative periods, the benefits and risks of opioid-free anesthesia, and the use of multimodal approaches. We also touch on the coordination of patient care across multiple specialties and the ...
Jul 14, 2025•22 min
Recorded at this year's annual Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress in London, this conversation deals with a crisis that modern practitioners will recognise; how do we adapt to the needs of a collectively older population? We begin by focusing upon the Australian Intergenerational Report's alarming projections about an aging population and its impact on healthcare expenditure. It's a problem mirrored by many other Western nations. The conversation covers the ARC model, a...
Jul 10, 2025•17 min
This series of talks hits upon one of the longstanding themes of TopMedTalk, opioids and opioid reduction in a perioperative setting. We discuss the opioid epidemic, the issue of persistent opioid use after surgery, and strategies for opioid reduction. Topics include historical usage, the dangers of high-dose opioids, and alternative pain management techniques such as opioid-free anesthesia and multimodal analgesia. The discussion also highlights the importance of ongoing research, patient educa...
Jul 07, 2025•17 min
In this piece we look at the opioid crisis in the UK and how it has translated into clinical practice. Hear about the history and data behind opioid prescription trends, specifically highlighting the high-risk patient demographics and mortality figures associated with opioid use. Learn how a multidisciplinary approach, taken by the opioid reduction service at Guy’s & St. Thomas', helps showcase early outcome data and the strategies employed in opioid weaning. Emphasizing the importance of pa...
Jun 30, 2025•24 min
This piece focuses on strategies for opioid-sparing anesthesia guided by the NOL Index, emphasizing the variability in patient responses to opioids. The importance of monitoring nociception, using advanced devices and techniques to customize opioid dosing, reduce side effects, and confirm the effectiveness of regional anesthesia. Our presenter shares personal experiences from their professional life and case studies, illustrating the benefits and challenges of implementing multimodal and opioid-...
Jun 23, 2025•14 min
Euroanaesthesia 2025: the annual meeting of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, in Lisbon, Portugal. TopMedTalk were there, check out our coverage on our podcast timeline. We’ve released many bonus episodes over the last few weeks! In this piece Kate Leslie and Nick Margerrison speak with their guests Sarah Saxena, course director and professor of anaesthesiology at the University of Mons, Belgium and Mia Gisselbaek, an anaesthesiologist and PhD student in medical educati...
Jun 16, 2025•14 min
This piece was recorded at Euroanaesthesia 2025 in Lisbon. Kate Leslie interviews Wayne Morriss, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Otago, Christchurch, and Specialist Anaesthetist, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand. He is the Immediate Past President of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA). He shares his insights from his journey in global anaesthesia, including his tenure as WFSA president. We discuss global issues in anaesthesiology, the importance of inter...
Jun 09, 2025•16 min
We're at Euroanaesthesia 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. Here we discuss the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care's initiatives, focusing on the innovations in the scientific program in anaesthesia and perioperative medicine, and the importance of inclusivity and diversity within the society. The episode also highlights the future direction of the society, the role of trainees, and offers insights into the upcoming Congress in Rotterdam. Listeners are encouraged to apply for roles an...
Jun 02, 2025•15 min
Recorded at Euroanesthesia 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, the annual meeting of the European Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care. The episode features an interview with Edoardo de Roberti, a former ESAIC president, who shares insights into the challenges and advancements in the field of anesthesiology. Key topics include patient safety, sustainability in medical practices, and the role of artificial intelligence in improving anesthesiology. Eduardo also discusses workforce shortages in Europ...
May 31, 2025•15 min
Recorded at the Euroanaesthesia 2025 meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. Here the focus is on patient safety in anaesthesiology. We discuss the importance of patient safety preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively, with innovations in perioperative medicine and artificial intelligence. The ESAIC Patient Safety and Quality Committee developed a patient safety education project: the Safer Care to Save Lives, a comprehensive package of patient safety education for anaesthesiologists, healthca...
May 31, 2025•21 min
In this piece we discuss the intricacies of right heart failure, the differences between the right and left ventricles, and the challenges of early detection and monitoring. With a focus upon research we discuss the Swan-Ganz IQ pulmonary artery catheter, with the FastCCO algorithm, from BD Advanced Patient Monitoring. We cover its innovative capabilities, explore its impact on patient care and look particularly at high-risk patients like those with pulmonary hypertension and LVADs. The episode ...
May 31, 2025•22 min
Our guest, Chiara Robba, delves into her work on cerebral autoregulation in relation to critical illness. We explore the mechanisms of cerebral autoregulation in healthy and brain-injured patients, the potential of new monitoring technologies, and the importance of personalized patient care. The discussion also touches on the broader implications for managing blood pressure in various clinical scenarios, including sepsis and shoulder surgery. Presented by Kate Leslie and Monty Mythen with their ...
May 29, 2025•23 min
Euroanaesthesia 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. Here we look at the history and progress of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. We speak about the amalgamation of three separate societies into one, the inclusion of intensive care, key milestones like the Helsinki, Glasgow and Mellon-Olsen Declarations, and the significance of involving trainees. We also highlight the Society’s efforts in promoting research and its relationship with the European Journal of Anaesthesiology. More ...
May 29, 2025•13 min
The TopMedTalk team takes you to Euroanaesthesia 2025: The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. The Society is dedicated to supporting professionals in anaesthesiology and intensive care by serving as the hub for development and dissemination of valuable educational, scientific, research, and networking resources. This year we're bringing you interviews with some of the key players and speakers from the conference presented by our very own Pr...
May 26, 2025•7 min
This piece follows on from the previous interview with Manu Malbrian, but works as a standalone podcast. It is presented from the annual conference of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), the largest non-profit medical organization dedicated to promoting excellence and consistency in the practice of critical care. Here our guest very kindly shares his personal experience of critical care, before the conversation moves into the patient experience in general. Presented by Desiree Chappell...
May 19, 2025•17 min
This piece focuses upon an innovative device that has transformed patient care in Anesthesia; the Jaw Elevation Device (JED), a non-invasive tool designed to keep patients' airways open during moderate anesthesia care (MAC). The conversation explores the challenges of MAC, the device's adaptability across different patient demographics, and its impact on improving patient safety and practitioner efficiency. Learn more about the evolution of JED, its clinical applications, and where to find this ...
May 12, 2025•22 min
In this piece, we recap the last five days at the ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting. We visit highlights from the plenary speaker presentations by Chris Connor, Alana Flexman, Ramani Moonesinghe, Kevin Fong and Eugenie Kayak. We talk about the original research presented at the meeting including the breaking trials session. Then we review the great discussions we had with journal editors at the meeting. Finally we reflect on the great social events at the meeting, that foster fellowship and colleg...
May 06, 2025•16 min
In this piece we discuss breaking trial results with Chris Bain, a consultant anaesthetist and researcher, and Luke Perry, a trainee anaesthetist and PhD student*, both from Melbourne, Australia. We explore the effects of tissue trauma on inflammation and immune responses, and new results about the modifying effect of genetic expression with glucocorticoids. Then we delve into a pilot study on pulmonary artery catheters and cardiac surgery: one of the big questions in our specialty. The pilot st...
May 06, 2025•29 min
In this piece we discuss the latest news in medical publishing with Hugh Hemmings, editor-in-chief of the British Journal of Anaesthesia and Laszlo Vutskits, editor of Anesthesiology. We discuss the increasing volume of manuscripts being received by journals; the challenges of peer review, and initiatives to find and support new reviewers. Then we delve into the use of AI by authors and journals, and how this might influence publishing in the future. Presented by Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie on...
May 05, 2025•29 min
In this piece we discuss perioperative medicine with Alana Flexman, an anaesthetist and researcher from Vancouver, Canada, and Maryanne Balkin, an anaesthetist and law graduate from Melbourne, Australia. We explore our guests’ career journeys, and gender and equity issues, including unconscious bias and bullying, harassment, and discrimination, in the workplace. Finally we talk about the craziness and joy of continued learning and enquiry. Presented by Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie on location a...
May 05, 2025•29 min
In this piece we discuss risk in medicine with Kevin Fong, a consultant anaesthetist, retrieval medicine specialist, and broadcaster. In a wide-ranging conversation we talk about risk in anaesthesia, the effect of adverse events on individual practitioners and teams, and workforce issues in health. Presented by Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie on location at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine in Cairns, Australia, wi...
May 04, 2025•28 min
In this piece we discuss all things EEG with Chris Connor, an anesthesiologist and researcher from Boston, USA, and Jamie Sleigh, an anesthesiologist and researcher from Hamilton, New Zealand. We start by discussing the engineering behind the BIS algorithm, then move to interpreting the raw EEG, the spectrogram and burst suppression. Finally we discuss the ‘titration paradox’ and how it might influence research and AI. Presented by Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie on location at the Annual Scientif...
May 04, 2025•30 min
In this piece we discuss blood management in emergency and elective surgery with Matthew Wiles, an anaesthetist from Sheffield, UK, and editor of the journal Anaesthesia, and Catherine Downs, an anaesthetist from Sydney, Australia. The episode delves into haemorrhage associated with trauma and major surgery, and the benefits of point of care testing. We also took the opportunity to discuss authorship of scholarly work and the need to support emerging researchers and site collaborators. Presented...
May 04, 2025•28 min
In this piece we discuss sustainability in healthcare with Eugenie Kayak, an anaesthetist from Melbourne, Australia, and Dan Lazzari, an anaesthetist from Cairns, Australia. The episode delves into Eugenie’s journey with Doctors for the Environment Australia and her work as an educator in sustainability. We discuss national and international solutions, and local initiatives by Dan and his colleagues to improve sustainability and reduce operating room waste in Cairns. Presented by Andy Cumpstey a...
May 04, 2025•27 min
In this piece we discuss perioperative medicine with Ramani Moonesinghe, an anaesthetist and intensive care specialist from London, England, and Phuong Markman, an anaesthetist from Cairns, Australia. We explore access to and outcomes from surgery, particularly in relation to remoteness and socioeconomic deprivation. Then we talk about specific interventions to improve the patient experience, such as Sip til Send, and the challenges of implementing the program and demonstrating that it’s safe wi...
May 03, 2025•30 min
In this piece we discuss pain medicine with Nadine Attal, a neurologist and pain medicine specialist from France, and Allen Finley, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist from Canada. The episode delves into neuropathic pain and the need to personalize its management, and efforts to standardize the management of paediatric pain in Canada. We talk about the ICD-11 which recognizes chronic pain as a disease, and ChildKind.org which nurtures holistic and responsive support for children or...
May 03, 2025•30 min
