Airwayve

In this episode, Josephine and Manuela explore the anesthetic considerations for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing non-cardiac surgery. From coronary physiology and myocardial oxygen supply-demand balance to acute coronary syndromes, perioperative risk assessment and intraoperative management, they break down the key concepts every medical student should know. Whether you’re p...

In this episode, Jessica and Alex explore anesthetic considerations for patients with thyroid disease and those undergoing thyroidectomy. Starting with a review of thyroid physiology, they break down how hypo- and hyperthyroidism affect major organ systems and why these changes matter in the perioperative setting. The discussion covers pre-operative optimization, airway assessment, intraoperative...

In this episode, Alex and Josephine sit down with their colleagues Iliya and Kaitlyn, who both matched to anesthesia at McMaster University, and Tariq, who matched to anesthesia at the University of Alberta, to reflect on their journeys to residency. From choosing electives to preparing for interviews, they share practical insights and honest reflections on the CaRMS process, including parallel pl...

In this Airwayve episode, we kick off our anesthetic emergencies season with a practical look at hypoxemia and hypoxia. We review the oxygen cascade, the A–a gradient, and how oxygen is transported in blood, then clarify the difference between hypoxemia and tissue hypoxia through the lens of oxygen delivery and consumption. We break down the five major causes of hypoxemia and share a stepwise appr...

Don’t hold your breath for this one. In this month’s episode, we take a deep dive into ventilation basics and walk through how normal respiratory physiology compares to positive-pressure ventilation in the OR. We break down core settings like FiO₂, tidal volume, respiratory rate, I:E ratio, and PEEP, then explore common ventilation modes and when you might choose each one. To round things out, we...

In this episode of Airwayve , join Manuela and Tariq as they explore the anesthetic considerations for patients with liver disease. We start with a refresher on liver physiology and its vital roles in metabolism, coagulation, and drug clearance, before delving into the pathophysiology of cirrhosis and how it affects perioperative management. From there, we discuss preoperative risk assessment, int...

In this episode of Airwayve , Alex and Josephine dive into the challenges of managing pulmonary hypertension in the OR. We begin by reviewing normal pulmonary vascular physiology, then move into the mechanisms and classifications of pulmonary hypertension. From there, we unpack the anesthetic implications, focusing on hemodynamic goals, drug choices, and monitoring strategies. To bring these princ...

In this episode of Airwayve, join Jenny and Alex as they discuss patients receiving prone positioning in the OR. We first start with the basics- what prone positioning looks like, how patients are safely flipped, and which surgeries require it. From there, we unpack the physiologic changes across cardiac, respiratory, and neurologic systems, and dive into the major complications anesthetists need...

In this episode of Airwayve, your hosts Alex and Jenny tackle anaesthetic considerations for patients with elevated intracranial pressure. Join us as we break down the core anatomy and physiology behind ICP, explore common pathologies  and discuss the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies used to manage these complex patients in the OR. From choosing the right induction agents to adjustin...

In this episode, Grace and Winnie sit down with their classmates Sanjum and Irene- newly matched anesthesia residents at McMaster and U of T- to reflect on their journeys to residency. From choosing electives to preparing for interviews, they share practical insights and honest reflections on the CaRMS process, parallel planning and personal growth along the way. Whether you’re gearing up for CaRM...

Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace, alongside a special guest Dr. Sean Middleton to talk about medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Dr. Middleton is a staff anesthesiologist at Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital.  In addition to his work as an anesthesiologist, he is also involved in providing MAiD. Join us as we discuss his journey into anesthesia, how his ba...

Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace, alongside a special guest Dr. Kathleen Wheeler to talk about palliative care. Dr. Wheeler works as a staff anesthesiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences. She completed a fellowship in palliative care at McMaster University, and actually helped to pilot this program between the Department of Anesthesia and the Division of Palliative Care. She...

Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace, alongside a special guest Dr. Paul McHardy to talk about regional anesthesia. Dr. McHardy is a renowned regional anesthesiologist at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He previously served as the regional anesthesia fellowship director at Sunnybrook. Thank you to Dr. McHardy for kindly joining us on this episode.  Support the show

Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace, alongside a special guest Dr. Jose Carvalho, to talk about obstetrical anesthesia. Dr. Carvalho is the former Director of Obstetric Anesthesia at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and has contributed tremendously to this subspecialty. Tune in to hear about his career in obstetrical anesthesia, tips for medical students, and some useful triath...

Join two of our new Airwayve hosts Alex and Jenny for an episode covering anesthetic considerations. In today's talk they cover obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity, including the anatomy and physiology, risk factors, and perioperative management of these patients. Don't snooze on this episode! Credits:  - Writer: Alexander Xiang, Jenny Hu - Editor: Winnie Liu, Grace Huang - Residen...

Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Grace and Winnie, alongside a special guest Dr. Juan Camilo Segura Salguero, to talk about cardiac anesthesia. Dr. Segura is a staff anesthesiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, a subspecialist in cardiac anesthesia, and has also completed fellowships in Intensive Care and Thoracic Anesthesia at Toronto General Hospital. Tune in to hear about his journey in...

Join two of our new Airwayve hosts Irene and Alex for this month's episode covering pediatric anesthesia. In today's talk they give an overview of pediatric anesthesia, including a discussion of anatomy and physiology, preoperative and intraoperative considerations, and common pediatric problems. Remember, kids aren't just little adults, and this episode gives us a deep dive into wh...

This month's episode with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace is an interview with Dr. Jennifer Nelli about neuroanesthesia. Dr. Nelli is a staff anesthesiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, a subspecialist in neuroanesthesia, and the director of McMaster's neuroanesthesia fellowship program. Tune in to hear about her journey in anesthesia, doing her fellowship in Boston, and the newest adv...

Join Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace for another episode covering anesthetic considerations. In today's talk they cover postoperative nausea and vomiting, including the physiology of vomiting, risk factors, and prevention/management. Hopefully this episode doesn't make you feel queasy! Credits:  - Writer: Muizz Hussain - Editor: Raven Kang, Winnie Liu, Grace Huang - Resident Editor: Dr....

Join Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace as they launch Airwayve's newest mini-series covering anesthesia subspecialties. Today they are joined by Dr. Eli Adly, a staff anesthesiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, a chronic pain subspecialist, and the director of McMaster's chronic pain management fellowship program. Tune in to hear about her journey in anesthesia, the highlights and challe...

Join Airwayve hosts Winnie and Raven for an episode covering an important concept in respiratory physiology - ventilation and perfusion - as well as anesthetic considerations for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease! Credits:  - Writer: Winnie Liu - Editor: Raven Kang - Resident Editor: Dr. Puru Panchal - Staff Reviewer: Dr. Andrew Syrett Support the show

This month's Airwayve episode is hosted by Dorisa and one of our new hosts, Maxine! We cover some physiologic changes during pregnancy and pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative anesthetic considerations for obstetric patients. Credits:  - Writer: Maxine Maretzki - Editor: Raven Kang - Resident Editor: Dr. Grace Martin - Staff Reviewer: Dr. Annemaria De Tina Support the show

This month's Airwayve episode is hosted by Maia and one of our new hosts, Winnie! We cover some respiratory physiology, pathophysiological changes in asthma, and finally pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative anesthetic considerations for patients with asthma. Credits:  - Writer: Winnie Liu - Editor: Raven Kang - Resident editor: Dr. Puru Panchal - Staff reviewer: Dr. Anthony Vale...

Join Airwayve hosts Raven and Dorisa for an episode on atrial fibrillation. This episode provides an overview of the electrical conduction system of the heart and a brief discussion on the classification of tachyarrhythmias. It also covers pathophysiology, complications, and anesthetic considerations for atrial fibrillation. Credits:  - Writer: Raven Kang - Resident editor: Dr. Puru Panchal - Staf...

Join Airwayve hosts Raven and Maia for part two of our discussion on diabetes mellitus. In this episode, we cover pharmacology and three life-threatening emergencies: diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, and hypoglycemia. Credits:  - Writer: Raven Kang - Resident editor: Dr. Puru Panchal  - Staff editor: Dr. Mohamad Sharaf Aldeen Support the show