The Critical Care Commute Podcast

Join Peter Brindley and Leon Byker as they host David Bertoni, an ED physician and ECMO clinical lead, and Jorian 'Joe' Kippax, a trauma specialist and reservist, for an incredible story of a remote river rescue in Tasmania.

The team responds to a distress call from a trapped rafting party in the Franklin River, one of Tasmania's most remote and formidable areas. The rescue involves complex logistical challenges, a fiel...

In this episode, we welcome Professor Mervyn Singer, author of Sepsis 3.0. Sepsis remains one of the most complex and deadly conditions in critical care. In this conversation,Professor Singer shares his perspectives on the shifting landscape of sepsis treatment, the role of antibiotics, steroids, metabolic interventions, and the future ofprecision medicine.

He also challenges some long-standing dogmas and emphasizes the importance ...

Dr. Shannon Fernando is an intensivist at Lakeridge Health and a prolific researcher with over 150 publications. Known for his work in outcomes-based research across critical care, he joins us to discuss long-term outcomes after cardiogenic shock.

About the Episode:

This episode is part of our cardiovascular critical care series and explores what happens after the ICU for patients who survive cardiogenic shock. We unpack quality of l...

In this episode, recorded live at CCCF 2024, we sit down with Dr. Emilie Belley-Côté, a cardiac intensivist, researcher, and clinical trialist from McMaster University, to unpack cardiogenic shock: the SCAI classification.

Whether you're in the ED, cath lab, or ICU, the SCAI (Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions) stages offer a common language to describe the severity of cardiogenic shock, guide escalation of...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. James Downar, a leading Canadian voice in palliative and critical care, for a wide-ranging discussion on the emerging role of psychedelics in managing psychological and existential distress.

Psychedelics have gone from fringe to forefront in recent years, and we dig into what that shift might mean for patients facing critical illness or the end of life.

What psychedelics are and how they work

• S...

Recorded live at the Canadian Critical Care Forum 2024 in Toronto, this episode dives into the complex world of ischemia-reperfusion syndrome — the paradox where restoring blood flow causes further injury. We explore the underlying mechanisms, clinical implications, and future directions in managing this phenomenon.

Joining us for the third time is Prof. Mervyn Singer, ICU physician, researcher, and thought leader in critical care p...

Dr. Mike Christian is a critical care and pre-hospital medicine specialist with extensive experience in aeromedical transport and military medicine. His diverse career spans work as a paramedic, internal medicine and critical care training, and roles as a flight physician with London Air Ambulance and the Canadian military. He is a leading advocate for integrating interprofessional teams and advancing physician-led pre-hospital car...

In this episode, hosts Leon Byker and Peter Brindley are joined by Dr. Elizabeth Viglianti, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, Pulmonologist and Critical Care Specialist, to discuss the crucial issue of gender based harassment in medicine.

Gender-Based Harassment refers to any unwelcome behavior, comment, or conduct that demeans, intimidates, or disadvantages someone based on their gender or gender identity. ...

We take another break as we are joined by Prof. Wendy Sligl, formidable ID and ICU doc, to discuss the critical topic of optimizing antibiotic prescribing in critical care settings.

The discussion covers various aspects of antibiotic use, including the importance of timely administration, the role of communication in ensuring effective treatment, and the nuances of dosing strategies such as loading doses and continuous infusions. T...

Following the discussion on ECLS in AMI and cardiogenic shock, we go on to discuss eCPR for cardiac arrest specifically. This episode was recorded live at the Critical Care Canada Forum 2024 as part of our special series on cardiac intensive care.

Our guest is Dr. Darryl Abrams, Associate Medical Director and Director of Research for the Medical ECMO Program at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University. Dr. Abrams joins us for an i...

In this episode, recorded live at the Critical Care Canada Forum in Toronto, we dive into extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in cardiogenic shock, with Dr Sean van Diepen.

He is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, Co-Director of the CCU at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, and a leading voice in cardiac critical care.

Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of mechanical circulatory support, the latest ...

We’re taking a break from our Cardiac Critical Care series to bring you a conversation with one of the most influential figures in medicine.

Peter had the huge privilege of interviewing Major General Tim Hodgetts, the recently retired, most senior medical advisor in the UK forces.

Hodgetts shares his remarkable journey in transforming emergency medicine from its infancy to maturity, detailing poignant experiences from his early car...

Recorded live at the Critical Care Canada Forum 2024, this episode is part of our special Cardiac ICU Series.

Dr. Rebecca Mathew, cardiologist and critical care specialist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, joins us to discuss the latest refractory cardiac arrest practice updates, including antiarrhythmic drugs, defibrillation strategies, and the role of ECPR.

Chapters:

• Defining refractory cardiac arrest

• Antiarrhyth...

Welcome to our first episode in a series on Cardiac Intensive Care, recorded live at the Critical Care Canada Forum 2024. We kick off by looking at the latest Clinical Practice Update on post cardiac arrest care and refractory cardiac arrest.

The "Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Cardiovascular Critical Care Society/Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology Clinical Practice Update on Optimal Post Cardiac Arre...

Recorded live at the Toronto Critical Care Canada Forum, this episode features a conversation with Prof. Derek Angus, Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, senior editor at JAMA, and Vice Chair of Innovation.

We discuss the evolution of healthcare systems, the art of decision-making, the role of AI, and how to inspire the next generation of clinicians.

Chapters:

Welcome to the Forum

• Introductions and reflections on th...

Health Economics 101: "Code Green - How the big lie in health care affects us all."

Prof. John Kellum, is a Professor of Critical Care Nephrology and now provocative author! Join us as he talks to us about his book: "Code Green - How the Big Lie in Healthcare Affects Us All."

Conflict Declaration:

The hosts and producers of this podcast declare no financial gain or conflict of interest from this episode or the promotion of Code Gr...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Hyperbaric medicine with Dr. Jeff Kerrie, a Hyperbaric specialist from British Columbia, Canada.

Dr. Kerrie takes us through the science, history, and practical applications of Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as we explore the approved indications, physiological effects, and logistics of managing hyperbaric chambers.

Episode Chapters:

Introduction

Meet Dr. Jeff Kerrie and l...

In this episode, Peter Brindley and Leon Byker sit down with Dr. Rob Bevan, immediate past president of the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) and Critical Care Director at Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Dr. Bevan shares his journey through leadership in intensive care, the role of intensive care colleges, and the evolution of critical care training. He also explores the political, social, and ethical dimens...

Coping with dying and saying what needs to be heard: Elliot Sprague

Introduction: In this emotional episode, Peter Brindley, Leon Byker, and Elliot Sprague revisit Elliot’s journey with metastatic cancer, a year after his initial appearance on the podcast,

Elliot reflects on the impact of living with a terminal illness, sharing life lessons, and offering insights on how he continues to thrive despite a difficult prognosis. This ep...