GasGasGas - Anaesthetic Science for Anaesthesia!

Welcome to the final local anaesthetic episode - Peri-neural adjuncts- because we should not forget the medley of mixing options that you could stir into your NRfit cauldron.... although most folks don't. Ketamine, in it goes, give it a stir - a dash of clonidine for a bit of dozy chill - 3 grains of morphia and don't forget the sodium bicarbonate. Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/peri-neural-a...

Welcome to an experimental episode of GasGasGas - where you get the joys of a quiz after listening to all these episodes on local anaesthetics agents. Let me know if you think it's dry as hell. Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/local-anaesthetic-quiz/ ================================================ GasGasGas - Covering Anaesthetic Science for Anaesthetists! Sponsored by Teach Me Anaesthetics Ch...

Welcome to another essential episode of Gas Gas Gas, where we summarise all the local anaesthetic content we have covered - In order to get you fired up for the most exciting quiz on local anaesthetics you've ever had the pleasure of listening to.   Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/comparing-local-anaesthetics/ ================================================ GasGasGas - Covering Anaesthetic Sc...

Welcome to Local Anaesthetic Systemic Toxicity!! (LAST) is one of the most significant complications in regional anaesthesia practice. This episode explores the pathophysiology, recognition, and management of LAST with particular emphasis on emergency management protocols and risk mitigation strategies. Understanding LAST is crucial for safe regional anaesthesia practice (in Anaesthetic rooms, sur...

Today we're exploring ropivacaine - the local anaesthetic you might not see every day, but absolutely need to understand when bupivacaine is in short supply or when examiners want to test your knowledge of enantiomeric purity and differential motor blockade.... Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/ropivacaine/ ================================================ GasGasGas - Covering Anaesthetic Science...

Welcome to lidocaine - the ubiquitous local anaesthetic that's everywhere in clinical practice but comes with some important caveats. Whether you're preparing for your primary FRCA exams or just starting your anaesthesia rotations, understanding lidocaine's extensive clinical applications, antiarrhythmic properties, and the growing role of IV infusions for pain management is core know how!. Show n...

Welcome to the Prilocaine episode - the local anaesthetic that's often overshadowed by Bupivacaine but deserves a place in your clinical toolkit. Whether you're preparing for your primary FRCA exams or just starting your anaesthesia rotations, understanding Prilocaine's unique properties will help you tailor anaesthesia to patient and surgery, bupivacaine isn't always the answer Show notes at: htt...

If you like a story about tenacious testicular traction and slamming shins then this is the episode for you.  This FRCA Primary Podcast episode explores cocaine and the exposure patients have to it in the clinical environment, chiefly courtesy of the ENT surgeons. The episode explores mechanism, side effects, onset, implications, but also the history of spinal anaesthesia and treatment of cocaine...

This FRCA Primary Podcast episode burrows into bupivacaine, exploring its friends (additives), mechanism of action, and clinical applications. We'll cover the key differences between neuronal and cardiac action potentials, and discuss why levobupivacaine has become the preferred choice in many clinical scenarios. Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/primary-frca-podcast-episode-31-bupivacaine-and-f...

This FRCA Primary Podcast episode establishes the scientific foundation for understanding how Local Anaesthetic drugs work, why they behave differently and how to use them safely. By the end, you'll understand nerve physiology, sodium channel blockade, drug classification, and the basics of local anaesthetic toxicity. Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/local-anaesthetic-fundamentals-for-the-frca/...

Opioids are a significant cornerstone of anaesthetic practice, forming part of the triad of anaesthesia with their analgesic properties. We utilise these analgesic properties not just because "surgery hurts," but also because our interventions cause physiological upset - laryngoscopy being a prime example. Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/comparing-opioids-for-the-frca-primary/   ==============...

Remifentanil is an anaesthetist’s dream: ultra-short acting, reliably titratable, and deeply potent. This episode takes a dual-pronged approach, covering both the FRCA-relevant pharmacology of remifentanil and introducing the Minto target-controlled infusion (TCI) model.  Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/remifentanil-and-minto-tci-model/ ================================================ GasGasGa...

In this explainer episode of GasGasGas, we make our descent into the joyful complexities of neuraxial opiate pharmacology. Why do we bother putting opiates into this space at all? What governs their journey, how do they behave once administered, and what clinical pearls can be drawn from their behaviour? This episode follows the journey of a single opioid molecule through the fatty labyrinth of th...

In this episode of Gas, Gas, Gas, we drill a figurative oil well into the pharmacology of diamorphine — also known by its more notorious street name, Heroin/Smack/Golden Brown. Diamorphine is a synthetic diacetylated derivative of morphine, and this episode details its mechanism of action, clinical applications, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and side effect profile. The episode is structured...

We are plunging into the pharmacology of oxycodone, a potent semi-synthetic opioid analgesic widely used in perioperative and chronic pain settings. We explore oxycodone's mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics We dissect its action on mu-opioid receptors, compare it to morphine and other opioids, and review evidence regarding oral vs intravenous formulations, metabolism via C...

In this episode of the GasGasGas Primary FRCA podcast, we explore methadone, its pharmacology (pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics), diverse receptor activity, and its clinical uses. While traditionally associated with managing opioid dependency, methadone’s unique pharmacodynamics and potential utility may have been overlooked given its other uses… Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/methadone-...

This episode takes a dive into the detailed pharmacology of Tramadol focussing on the content  for the FRCA Primary exam. We explore its unique multi-mechanism analgesic action, pharmacokinetics, clinical uses, and key points. Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/tramadol-for-frca-primary-exam/ ================================================ GasGasGas - Covering Anaesthetic Science for Anaesthetis...

In this episode of GasGasGas, we explore Alfentanil, a short-acting μ-opioid receptor agonist pivotal for anaesthetic practice. Discovered in 1976 by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Alfentanil remains a super handy agent, especially for (modified) rapid-sequence inductions and acute pain management. Show notes at https://gasgasgas.uk/alfentanil-for-the-frca-primary/   ====================================...

TIVA Models for Propofol particularly the: Marsh, Schnider, and Eleveld TCI models. Avoid the classic pitfalls of blindly trusting a pump. If you’re prepping for the FRCA or just want to master the ‘why’ behind TCI behaviour, you’re in the right place. Sorry to the USA folks stuck with mcg/kg/min! Show notes at: https://gasgasgas.uk/tiva-models-for-propofol/ =======================================...

In this VivaCast episode, we simulate a comprehensive FRCA Primary physiology viva covering three key topics: physiological response to acute blood loss, nerve conduction and classification, and acid-base balance including pH regulation and anion gap interpretation. Show Notes @ https://gasgasgas.uk/hemorrhage-nerves-ph/ ================================================ GasGasGas - Covering Anaesth...

Welcome to a special interview edition of GasGasGas – the podcast that explores anaesthetic life in all its glorious detail, venturing out into its terrifying, and human dimensions. I want those thinking about anaesthetics to gain insight, and I want everyone else Post IAC to remember the IAC experience and focus on what we can do to make the IAC time maximally useful for our colleagues. Today, ho...

In this VivaCast episode, we present a complex clinical scenario involving an intravenous drug user (IVDU) presenting with an infected pseudoaneurysm. Tom grapples with the challenges of these high BBV risk cases and managed local anaesthetic toxicity as it all goes terribly pear shaped! Show Notes Here! ================================================ GasGasGas - Covering Anaesthetic Science for...

In this episode of GasGasGas, we dive into the essential principles of pharmacokinetics, focusing on how drugs are processed by the body. We also explore the mechanisms and clinical implications of hypoglycaemic medications and discuss the fundamentals of clinical trials. Whether you're a medical professional or an interested listener, this discussion is packed with keywords, critical insights and...

This VivaCast episode covers essential FRCA Primary knowledge areas, focusing on ultrasound use and physics, cardiac output monitoring techniques, and the principles and safety considerations of diathermy in anaesthesia. Designed to simulate the viva experience, this episode prepares candidates with model answers and key concepts likely to appear in the examinations. Don't forget all the other Viv...

Tom's exam inches ever closer to reality, here he gets caught out on Droperidol, nails the Journey a Propofol Bolus Takes and handles Anti-Microbial Surgical Prophylaxis. Show-notes on gasgasgas.uk ================================================ GasGasGas - Covering Anaesthetic Science for Anaesthetists! Sponsored by Teach Me Anaesthetics Check out the Teach Me Anaesthetics 1100+ SBA Resource [af...