Deep Breaths Deep Breaths

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.R...

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 CareBJAED: ...

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 thi...

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) Appendixhttps://www.anzc...

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...

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...