Hypoxia: physiological causes

Throughout the pandemic, there has been considerable discussion about the possibility of running our of ventilators. One potential solution that was brought forward was putting multiple patients on a single ventilator. This is a lot harder than merely attaching a plastic splitter ... Show More

This week we have a brief conversation about prone mechanical ventilation for ARDS. Does it provide a benefit? When should we use it, and why does it work? I hope this is helpful as prone ventilation has been reported to provide benefit to patients with ARDS secondary to Coronavi ... Show More

Today we discuss the approach to oxygenating and mechanically ventilating a patient suffering from ARDS. We will cover elements relevant and essential in the management of COVID patients and all others with ARDS. 

Critically unwell patients often present with inadequate oxygenation and ventilation, in this episode we’re going to explore some of the physiology of critical illness, look at how we can improve oxygenation and ventilation, take a look mechanical ventilation and have a think abo ... Show More

In this episode we cover the rare but important driver of your patients respiratory failure:  Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia. Come listen to why you should always delineate HIV status, how to approach patient workup and treatment via an invasive and non invasive manner, and why ... Show More

In this, our inaugural episode, we explore common mechanisms underlying acute hypoxemic and hypercapneic respiratory failure. Concepts discussed include the oxygen delivery equation, differentiating hypoxia from hypoxemia, and a discussion of V/Q mismatch and shunts. In the follo ... Show More

Send us a textIn this episode we cover a condition that is anxiety provoking for patients and healthcare workers alike. We take you through our approach to both life threatening and non life threatening hemoptysis. Support the show 

In this episode we explain what rapid sequence intubation or RSI is and the indications for its use in securing a definitive airway. More importantly, we share lessons learned regarding COVID-specific considerations for intubating patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure ... Show More

Richard is a 75-year-old male patient being treated by physical therapy. In educating a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) about managing exacerbations at home, what advice should the physical therapist emphasize as MOST important? A. Use of an incentive sp ... Show More

In this episode I cover Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV). If you want to follow along with written notes on non-invasive ventilation go to https://zerotofinals.com/niv or find the respiratory section in the Zero to Finals medicine book. This episode covers the non-invasive ventilat ... Show More

Emergency Medicine has undergone many changes over the last couple of decades and especially during the COVID pandemic. Most of these changes have been very positive, but increasing volumes, staff shortages, aging populations, increasing breadth of responsibilities and better acc ... Show More

This podcast is a continuation of Episode 65 which was an introduction to ventilator physiology. In Part 2, I focus on CPAP and PEEP while making tons of integrations with how they affect multiple pulmonary and cardiovascular parameters. This is a classic source of “physiology ar ... Show More

How can ventilation be improved to help reduce the spread of COVID? The surprising discovery that patients who isolate prior to surgery are more likely to develop post-operative lung complications. What's it like living with tinnitus and can anything be done about it? And calls t ... Show More