Anaesthesia on Air

In this first of a two-part podcast from the Centre for Perioperative Care and the Royal College of Anaesthetists former CPOC Fellow Dr Sam Moore and Dr Stuart Connal explore shared decision making - its definitions, usage, and many nuances in the interaction between clinicians and patients.  This podcast features guests Dr Sam Finnikin, Dr Gemma Hughes, and Leila Finikarides, and is split into tw...

Following his presentation at our 2024 Winter Symposium, Professor Ketan Dhatariya discusses Obesity Metabolic Syndrome and diabetes in an engaging and wide-ranging conversation.  In this podcast Ketan reflects on the possible false economy of limiting access to GLP-1 agonists, the need for a non-judgmental view of patients presenting with obesity, how an evolutionary viewpoint can usefully inform...

In this podcast, Dr Gemma Phillips and Dr Yogita Chikermane discuss the impact of parenting on anaesthetic training. They share their own experiences, talk about how things might have changed since then (or not), and what still needs to change to help anaesthetists navigate the often competing demands of anaesthetic training and parenting. Related information: Returning to work in anaesthesia cour...

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of neonatal resuscitation, which some listeners may find sensitive or distressing. In Episode 13 and the season 2 finale, Eoin and Duncan welcome Dr. Esther Godfrey, co-founder of the SuPPORT project, to share her personal experience of neonatal resuscitation with her own daughter Juno, along with the project's origins.  Together, they explore the...

In this Episode of the Heritage Series, Dr Maria Rollin talks to Dr Debbie Nolan and Kevin Storey about the move from Russell Square to Churchill House and what that meant to the specialty

Eoin and Duncan are joined by former RCoA Vice President Dr Helgi Johannsson. Together they cover many topics in the realm of obstetric anaesthetics including the importance of communication, what makes a good obs anaesthetist and some tips and tricks for epidurals! Why should you involve the partner? How can you bring order to chaotic situations? What is on Helgi's obs playlist? Listen to find ou...

Eoin and Rosie are joined by Susanna Stanford, a patient advocate, to talk through how to the importance of the prevention and management of pain during C-section. We discuss how to avoid pitfalls when testing neuraxial anaesthesia and how to manage problems under regional anaesthesia, then go on to talk about the criticality of patient communication and human factors when facing problems with neu...

Episode 10 the Postpartum Visit! Eoin & Rosie dive into how to approach, structure the postpartum visit and why we as a speciality should do it! We will cover everything from postpartum headache to what red flags to look for with nerve injury.  BJA education - postpartum headache: diagnosis and treatment AoA guideline - Neurological monitoring associated with obstetric neuraxial block AoA guid...

Our good friend and anaesthetic registrar colleague Rahul returns to defend his undisputed title as 'NovPod champion'. This time Eoin and Rahul go head to head with their knowledge of anaesthetic drugs used on the labour ward, competing for the glory of winning the golden Tuohy needle.  References  OAA obstetric quick reference handbook Oxford handbook - drugs in anaesthesia and intensive care Ana...

We are joined by the fantastic Dr Damien Hughes - an anaesthetic consultant and OAA council member - to discuss how we manage pain on the labour ward. We discuss the physiology of pain in labour and the management options we are able to deliver as anaesthetists, as well as how we can positively impact maternal health outcomes and our patients' birth experience.  References  Anaesthesia (e-LA) -&gt...

In Episode 7, Eoin and Rosie sit down with our fantastic guest Dr Kirsty Maclennan - an anaesthetic consultant and OAA board member - to talk through the anaesthetic emergencies that we encounter on the labour ward. With expert advice from the lead editor of the recently released obstetric anaesthetic quick reference handbook - this is not an episode to miss! References -  -        OAA obstetric q...

For Episode 6 - a 2 part special! - we are joined by our friend and obstetric registrar colleague, Miss Chiara Petrosellini, to talk through common obstetric emergencies and how Anaesthetists are involved in their management. Chiara gives us some great advice about working in high pressure situations and dealing with emergencies as part of the wider obstetric team. References OAA obstetric quick r...

In this episode Rosie and Eoin are joined by Gail Roberts, a midwife coordinator, to talk through how the labour ward actually works. Gail gives us an insight into what makes a good anaesthetist on labour ward and how to work well within the labour ward MDT. References -  -        OAA obstetric quick reference handbook -        Association of Anaesthetists guideline - Neurological monitoring assoc...

For Episode 6 - a 2 part special! - we are joined by our friend and obstetric registrar colleague, Miss Chiara Petrosellini, to talk through common obstetric emergencies and how Anaesthetists are involved in their management. Chiara gives us some great advice about working in high pressure situations and dealing with emergencies as part of the wider obstetric team. References OAA obstetric quick r...

In episode 3 we are joined by Dr Serina Sidhu, an anaesthetic CT1 about to start her obstetric novice period. Rosie and Eoin are here to answer her questions about the role of the anaesthetist on the labour ward and what we actually do on a day to day basis.  References - -        OAA Obstetric QRH - https://www.oaa-anaes.ac.uk/oaa-quick-reference-handbook/qrh -        Anaesthesia (e-LA) -> Cor...

In this episode, Eoin, Rosie and Serina discuss some of the pathophysiological conditions that anaesthetists encounter on the labour ward including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and abnormal placental implantation. Eoin and Rosie give advice on how to approach these and how they might impact our management of patients presenting with these conditions.  References - -        OAA Obstetric QRH...

Dr Ramai Santhirapala welcomes Dr Claire Shannon as new President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists with an interview featuring questions from the RCoA Member Engagement Panel and covering everything from training programmes, careers, Anaesthetic Associates, sexism in medicine, Claire's own professional journey, and the advice she'd give her younger self.  This audio interview accompanies a co...

For episode 2, we are joined by NovPod series 1 alumnus Dr Layla Guscoth to discuss the changes that pregnancy has on maternal physiology and how this will affect our anaesthetic management.   References Difficult airway society guideline - management of difficult and failed tracheal intubation in obstetrics BJA physiology of pregnancy: clinical anaesthetic implications   BJA Anaesthesia and non-o...

Welcome back! We are delighted to bring you a second series of the NovPod, this time about the exciting world of obstetric anaesthesia. For this series we have collaborated with both the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association to bring you the best content and guests possible. In this episode we reunite with our excellent guest from our “How to survive on-calls”...

In this follow-up to the first NovPod series, Drs Eoin Dore and Duncan Kemp discuss their top ten takeaway tips for the Novice anaesthetist, adapted from a talk they gave at an RCoA event in late 2023. Duncan and Eoin talk about resources, evidence for the IAC, active learning, the importance of rest when doing late shifts, and more. For anyone who wants a re-cap of the key messages from the Novic...

This podcast is part of a mini series of 3, looking at how military medicine has transferred to civilian practice and vice-versa.  Each part has been recorded as a stand alone episode so you can listen to them in any order you like.  Join the outgoing Surgeon General, Major General Tim Hodgetts, Professor and Retired Colonel, Peter Mahoney and Retired Colonel 'Jag' Jagdish as they reflect on their...

This podcast is part of a mini series of 3, looking at how military medicine has transferred to civilian practice and vice-versa.  Each part has been recorded as a stand alone episode so you can listen to them in any order you like.  Join the outgoing Surgeon General, Major General Tim Hodgetts, Professor and Retired Colonel, Peter Mahoney and Retired Colonel 'Jag' Jagdish as they reflect on their...

This podcast is part of a mini series of 3, looking at how military medicine has transferred to civilian practice and vice-versa.  Each part has been recorded as a stand alone episode so you can listen to them in any order you like.  Join the outgoing Surgeon General, Major General Tim Hodgetts, Professor and Retired Colonel, Peter Mahoney and Retired Colonel 'Jag' Jagdish as they reflect on their...

This recording accompanies an Anaesthesia on Air discussion about preparing for the FRCA examination . Download and save this guided session for whenever you need a moment to relax, reflect, and regroup, whether you're preparing for an exam, or anything else. Dr Jim Brunning, breathwork instructor and FRCA Final examiner, leads this guided relaxation. Music accompaniment provided by Somabreath. 

Dr Emma Plunkett speaks to Dr Jim Brunning and Dr Joe Pick about wellbeing in the context of preparing for and sitting the FRCA examination. Drawing on their own experiences Jim, Joe and Emma discuss the importance of relaxation, sleep, time-management, and more. They explore methods exam candidates can apply in their own preparations, anxiety and imposter syndrome, and how to take a healthy persp...