Talking All Things Cardiopulm

Early mobility is not just a catch phrase. It’s activity that can change the trajectory of a patient’s condition, hospital stay and potentially life. Join me as we welcome Dr. Jenna Hightower, PT, DPT, CCS, critical care physical therapist, and CVP Emerging Leader award recipient.   In this episode we learn about Jenna’s physical therapy journey and her evolution from an exercise physiologist in o...

In this episode, Dr. Rachele Burriesci, PT, DPT, CCS, GCS sits down with Dr. Aaron Thrush, PT, DPT, MPH, CCS one of the lead authors behind the groundbreaking article “Development and Application of a Novel Framework for Mobility and Rehabilitation Under Support of Extracorporeal Life Support: The M-U-S-E-C-L-S Framework.”   Together, they break down the first ever systems level roadmap designed t...

Lucky for us, I was able to get more time with Aaron to discuss his life abroad.  We had some time after discussing his newest publication to dig further into the regular day life in Abu Dhabi and into to another world of culture and cultural competency.  Join us for an episode of common ground, laughs, food, and culture!  Stay tuned next week for our publication breakdown of the MUSECLS framework...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to treat patients internationally as a physical therapist?  Does that opportunity feel just out of reach? Have you considered being more involved in the APTA or the Cardiovascular & Pulmonary (CVP) Academy or other leadership roles and just don’t know where to start? Join me in welcoming Dr. Aaron Thrush, who shares his inspiring journey from Philly...

Returning to the mic after a summer hiatus, Rachele recaps summer fun, garden woes, new collaborations and the joy of being in the room.    Follow PrO2:  Instagram Facebook   Linked-In   Website   Newsletter     Coupon Code for PrO2: ALLTHINGS15  (I do not receive commission just sharing a 15% off coupon code for a device that I believe in)   Find me on: IG: @all_things_cardiopulm Threads: @all_th...

One word. Legacy.  When one looks back on their career they might question: did I do enough, did I make a difference, did I leave a legacy?  There is no question in mind that Ken is a person that has left his mark on the respiratory muscle training world, with his passion for understanding and innovation to create the devices he needed to accomplish his goals, he has left us not only with a superi...

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common finding in the acute care setting. So, the question is, are there any hard and fast rules surrounding orthostatic hypotension?  Are there cut-offs for activity / exercise? The quick answer is: it’s complicated and it depends. It requires knowledge, experience and clinical judgement every step of the way. Each case, each patient may have different symptoms a...

Happy 100th episode of Talking All Things Cardiopulm!   My mission from day one was to bring Cardiopulm to the forefront of conversation, to give clinicians tools to use in their own practice and to help bridge the gap between research and the clinician. I created this podcast, because I felt like it needed to exist. I hope to continue going for as long as I can, to provide value and resources for...

Documentation continues to be one of the biggest frustrations across physical therapy. Despite the many changes in technology over the past 20 years, it can still feel time consuming and an overall arduous task. Shifting our perspective to an opportunity to showcase our clinical expertise and reasoning can be helpful.  I like to look at documentation like an ESPN snapshot.  Point out the highlight...

What makes an expert an expert? Is it their experience? Is it their knowledge? Is it their ability to teach/mentor?  I can argue that it’s a compilation of all of the above.  But do experts know everything? Is it even possible?  I think the question is a set up for the most obvious answer. But maybe it’s not that obvious? A recent conversation spurred this discussion. Join me as tackle this questi...

I love a good comeback story, and typically cheer for the underdog, but the Measles can go ahead and stay in the past. As cases continue to rise, it’s time to take a look at overall pathophysiology and transmission of this very contagious virus.  Join me as we discuss yet another virus taking the U.S. by storm. At the time of this recording the data available was as of 2/28/25 with 164 cases of me...

As the winter season comes to an end, we review 1 of the 4 major viruses that has been rampant this year.  Though RSV is officially on the decline, it is still very present in our communities and hospitals.   Join us as we discuss virus transmission and possible precautions, that you may say in your setting. Is it Droplet or is it Contact?  That seems to be a question these days and there seems to...

Influenza cases and hospitalizations continue to be the leading respiratory disease nationwide this season.  As of Jan 25, 2025, there have been 20 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations, and 11,000 deaths (including 47 pediatric deaths). At the time of this recording Feb 6th, the CDC had not issued a weekly report in 2 weeks. I am happy to report that the CDC did release a weekly report on F...

We currently have a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak across the US and Kansas recently made national news in this regard. I’m here to break down the pathology of TB, and review the incidence to give some assurance, as well as, real concerns with this diagnosis.  In this episode:  Incidence of TB in the US over the last 5 years  Current KC TB outbreak  Active vs. Latent TB  Signs and symptoms of TB  Tran...

What might seem like a simple task in the winter months could lead to devastation without the right education.  What do we need to consider to keep our patients with heart disease safe? The concern lies in the compounding effect. The effect of cold weather on the cardiopulmonary system, age, comorbidities, and aerobic capacity all play a role in determining safety. Join me as we dive into HR respo...

As the temperature drops across the country it is important to understand the impact the cold air will have on the cardiopulmonary system.  Similar to pipes in a house, the cold affects both the pipes in the lungs and body in the same way, constriction.  Although these changes occur in healthy individuals,  they have more profound impact on those with heart and lung conditions. Join me as we discu...

Leaving the last day of 2024 with a little spice. Since most of this audience is PTs, PTAs and PT(A) students, I just want to remind us to value what we do. Stand up for your skill set, educate others on the benefits and continue to advocate! Want to sign up for a mentoring call with Dr. Burriesci? Sign up here: https://www.allthingscardiopulm.com/mentoring Interested in Jane? Jane, is an all-in-o...

Review of the literature brings us an article from Japan, evaluating diaphragm and chest wall excursion in four different positions in healthy adults. Dynamic MRI was utilized for excursion measurements throughout all four positions in quiet breathing. The initial hypothesis was disproved, allowing for deeper discussion of the effect of position on diaphragm movement.  Join me today as we discuss...

Have you seen the Nuss Bar Protocol? If not, this will prepare you if you ever do. This procedure is more common in the pediatric population but is a growing surgical option for patients in their 40th and 50th decade of life.  Though considered a “minimally invasive technique,” it is quite an extensive procedure that navigates around multiple primary organs and has several considerations post-surg...

Tracheal Deviation, to the Left, to the Right, which way does it go? This is probably one of the most common questions that I get from students studying for the NPTE. As it often does, the answer comes down to pressures.  Tune into this episode to learn ipsilateral vs. contralateral movement of the trachea. Want to sign up for a mentoring call with Dr. Burriesci? Sign up here: https://www.allthing...

It would be unfair of me to dismiss automatic blood pressure measurements as they are used in most settings, including the ICU.  It’s important to understand their normal guestimate error range and when you should consider taking a manual BP. Similar to manual blood pressures, there are a number of steps you can take to help increase their accuracy. Instead of avoiding the inevitable, let’s empowe...

Want some tips to improve the accuracy of your blood pressure technique? I’ve got you covered.  It all starts with a manual cuff, the obliteration technique and a few simple setup tips. Join me in this episode as we break down the step-by-step technique of improving accuracy with blood pressure measurements.  In this episode: Set up considerations prior to taking BP Importance of cuff size Positio...

Respiratory muscle training is by far one of my favorite interventions and continues to show itself in research.  Anytime RMT is added, you can hypothesize that your patient will improve in a number of different categories (gas exchange, respiratory strength, 6MWD, QOL scales, blood pressure, and the list continues). I honestly continue to be impressed by RMT. But in order to incorporate RMT, you...

In today’s episode, we break down 3 of the most common high-flow oxygen devices that you may see in the hospital setting: typical high-flow nasal cannula, venturi mask, and heated high-flow nasal cannula devices.  Each device varies on the level of flow and FiO2 available, as well as, how the FiO2 is achieved. Each device also has pros and cons for choice of use.  Join me today, as we discuss the...

 Time and time again, across my career, whether I’ve been in the clinic or teaching, I have come across words in healthcare that are either used interchangeably, go by different names, or simply have changed over time.   Nomenclature issues can lead to confusion, errors, and miscommunication, while also limiting data collection for research.  Join me on this opinion piece about nomenclature and sh...