TopMedTalk

Perioperative Medicine and Promoting Diversity in Healthcare, A Deep Dive with David Story , Professor and Foundation Chair of Anaesthesia at the University of Melbourne; Head of the University Department of Critical Care, and President of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists (ANZCA). In this piece we discuss the evolution of perioperative medicine and the importance of diversity...

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...

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 importa...

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 g...

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...

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 multimoda...

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 expendit...

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 mu...

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 ea...

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 li...

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 Un...

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, includi...

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 off...

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 art...

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...

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 lo...

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 sc...

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 ef...

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 i...

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,...

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 e...

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...

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 p...

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...

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 crazine...