Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast

#284 Safer C-Section Pain Control with Ruth Landau, MD

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The fastest way to improve post-cesarean recovery is to start before the first incision—by setting expectations, testing the block, and validating w...

#283 How To Plan, Induce, And Recover Patients With Anterior Mediastinal Masses Without Triggering Collapse

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anterior mediastinal masses make even seasoned anesthesiologists pause, and for good reason: a stable, upright patient can decompensate with a single ...

#282 Building Safer Anesthesia Teams In A Locum-Driven World

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever walked into a new OR and spent the first ten minutes hunting for an airway bougie or a computer log-in that actually works? We dig into the hidde...

#281 Safer Anesthesia, Everywhere

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine stepping into an operating room where oxygen isn’t guaranteed, capnography is rare, and one anesthesiologist might serve a million people. T...

#280 Speak Up To Save Lives

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the biggest risks in maternal care are not just clinical, but cultural? We dig into the hard truth that speaking up can feel risky, pain durin...

#279 From Birthrooms To Boardrooms: Preventing Trauma And Elevating Maternal Anesthesia Care

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Power, control, and communication shape every birth—and too often, they decide whether care feels safe or traumatic. We dig into practical ways to p...

#278 Transforming Maternal Care Through Equity, Science, And Tech

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Maternal care is at a breaking point: delivering hospitals are disappearing while deaths that could be prevented keep climbing. We pull back the curta...

#277 Transforming Maternal Care: Faster Sepsis Recognition, Smarter Hemorrhage Response, and Safer VTE Prevention

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to our 2025 Stoelting Conference Podcast Series. Fever isn’t the fail-safe it’s made out to be—especially in pregnancy. We walk th...

#276 Maternal Care, Transformed

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Maternal safety changes when we stop relying on heroics and start building systems. We open the door to the 2025 APSF Stolting Conference series with ...

#275 Tracheostomy and Laryngectomy Patient Safety: Bedside Signs, Algorithms, and the Discipline that Prevents Catastrophe

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A patient rolls into the OR with a tracheostomy—do you maintain the current tube, intubate orally, or go through the stoma? We break down the decisi...

#274 Critical Decision Points in Emergency Tracheostomy Management

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tracheostomy complications occur at an alarming rate, affecting nearly half of all patients during their initial hospitalization. When these emergenci...

#273 Breathless Moments: When Premature Babies Need Extra Vigilance

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When our smallest patients need anesthesia care, their immature systems present unique challenges that demand specialized knowledge and vigilance. The...

#272 Behind the Waveform: Critical Safety Implications of CO2 Sensor Selection

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Could your CO2 sensor be putting patients at risk? This eye-opening Rapid Response to Questions from our Readers episode explores a serious patient sa...

#271 Empowering Patients: The Key to Safer Anesthesia

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Patient engagement stands as the cornerstone of perioperative safety, bringing together the knowledge of medical professionals with the lived experien...

#270 From Fears to Facts: Empowering Patients Before Surgery

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when we truly listen to patients' fears about anesthesia? The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) discovered something remar...

#269 Infiltrated IV Crisis: Managing Complications and Keeping Patients Safe

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every anesthesia professional has encountered IV infiltration—but when neuromuscular blocking agents are involved, this common complication becomes ...

#268 Beyond the Vein: The Dangers of Infiltrated Muscle Relaxants

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered what happens when neuromuscular blocking agents infiltrate into surrounding tissue instead of flowing smoothly through an IV? The conseq...

#267 Beyond Opioids: Revolutionizing Perioperative Pain Control

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Navigating the fine line between effective pain control and minimizing harm from opioid medications remains one of anesthesiology's greatest chal...

#266 Protecting the Brain: Perioperative Stroke Prevention

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Perioperative stroke represents a rare but potentially devastating complication of anesthesia care. While occurring in less than 1% of non-cardiac sur...

#265 The Breakthrough Drug Changing Perioperative Pain Management

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A revolution in pain management has arrived. The FDA's approval of Suzetrigine in January 2025 introduces the first non-opioid analgesic for mode...

#264 Rethinking Resuscitation in the Operating Room: Beyond ACLS

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cardiac arrest in the operating room presents unique challenges that standard Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) protocols simply were not de...

#263 Blood Pressure Blind Spots

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The standard of care for monitoring blood pressure during surgery hasn't changed in nearly 40 years, despite technological advances that could pr...

#262 Medical Literature Deep Dive: From Infant Intubation to GLP-1 Agonist Risks and More

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ready for a refreshing summer dive into the latest anesthesia safety research? This episode explores three groundbreaking studies that could transform...

#261 Patient Safety Challenges: From Global Cosmetic Tourism to Pediatric Medication Dosing

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Navigating the complex landscape of patient safety requires vigilance, knowledge, and adaptability. Today's episode takes us on a journey through...

#260 OpenAnesthesia and the APSF: Achieving Safe and Quality Anesthesia Care with Education Innovation

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Elizabeth Malinzak takes us behind the scenes of a fascinating educational initiative bridging knowledge gaps in anesthesiology. As a pediatric an...

#259 Every Move Matters: Why Transport Safety Can Save Your Critical Patients

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Intrahospital transport of critically ill patients presents significant safety risks that can be mitigated through proper guidelines, checklists, and ...

#258 Wheels of Risk: When Patient Safety Rolls Through Hospital Corridors

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The journey between hospital departments can be the most dangerous part of a patient's perioperative experience. This eye-opening episode dives d...

#257 Sweet Trouble: Perioperative Management of SGLT2 Inhibitors

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have revolutionized treatment for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease—but t...

#256 Skin in the Game: A Fresh Flow Podcast Takeover

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is a Fresh Flow Podcast Takeover Show. The need for strong leadership in anesthesiology has never been more crucial. Join us as we discuss struct...

#255 What You Need to Know Before Going Under

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fear of the unknown is one of the most significant sources of anxiety for surgical patients. What exactly happens when we're "put under&quot...

#254 The Patient's Guide to Anesthesia and Surgery

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fear of the unknown can make surgery and anesthesia unnecessarily stressful. Approximately 90% of patients experience some degree of anxiety about &qu...

#253 When Electrocautery Meets Implanted Devices: What Every Anesthesia Professional Needs to Know

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The safe management of non-cardiac implantable electrical devices during surgery requires careful planning and knowledge of device-specific considerat...

#252 Managing Neurologic Stimulators: A Critical Guide for Safe Anesthesia

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The podcast explores comprehensive recommendations for managing patients with non-cardiac implantable electrical devices during surgical procedures, e...

#251 Surgical Fires: The 30% Oxygen Rule

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Surgical fires are devastating yet entirely preventable events that continue to occur in operating rooms around the world. This eye-opening episode fe...

#250 Sugammadex in Special Populations: What Every Anesthesia Professional Needs to Know

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sugammadex safety considerations span across patient populations with renal impairment, pediatric patients, and pregnant or breastfeeding individuals,...

#249 Sugammadex Safety: Special Populations, Special Concerns

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Discover the critical safety considerations when using Sugammadex, the seemingly "magical" neuromuscular blockade reversal agent that's...

#248 Beyond the Mask: An OpenAnesthesia Collaboration on Perioperative Drug Safety

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Medication safety remains a cornerstone of anesthesia practice with complex environments and high-stakes decisions requiring vigilant attention to pre...

#247 Nudge Your Way to Greener Pediatric Anesthesia

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Climate change has arrived in the operating room, and pediatric anesthesiologists are taking action. Dr. Eva Lu-Boettcher, pediatric anesthesiologist ...

#246 Ditching Nitrous Oxide: The Bike Commuter's Guide to Safe and Sustainable Anesthesia

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Liz Hansen takes us behind the scenes of a remarkable transformation at Seattle Children's Hospital, where pediatric anesthesiologists have r...

#245 Unmasking Medical Misinformation

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our latest episode, we dive headfirst into the growing issue of medical misinformation and its alarming effect on anesthesia patient safety. As pat...

#244 Battling Myths and Misinformation: Ensuring Patient Safety in Anesthesia

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we dive into the critical topic of medical misinformation and its alarming impact on patient safety, particularly in the field of anesthesi...

#243 Unlocking Insights for Safer Anesthesia: Key Findings from the Literature and a Case Report

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode delves into key findings in the literature, focusing on the nuances of neuromuscular blockade in pediatric patients and novel advancement...

#242 Enhancing Anesthesia Patient Safety: Literature Reviews, Guidelines, and Recommendations

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling overwhelmed about staying up to date with the anesthesia literature? We hope you will check out the APSF's In The Literature section. Thi...

#241 The Impact of ISO 80369-6 Neuraxial Connectors: Patient Safety Challenges and Opportunities

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode discusses the implementation of ISO 80369-6 neuraxial connectors in Japan, analyzing the challenges faced and the implications for patien...

#240 Enhancing International Anesthesia Patient Safety: Insights on ISO Standards

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The episode explores the challenges and lessons learned from Japan's recent implementation of ISO 80369-6 standards in anesthesia practices, high...

#239 Enhancing Defibrillation Skills: The APSF's Technology Education Initiative

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the potential to save lives with our exciting discussion on the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation's Technology Education Initiative cou...

#238 Solutions to Reduce Pediatric Medication Errors during Anesthesia Care

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can we significantly reduce pediatric medication errors in anesthesia care? This podcast episode explores the urgent need to address medication errors...

#237 Preventing Pediatric Medication Errors

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the secrets of preventing pediatric perioperative medication errors with insights from our esteemed guests, Eva Lu-Boettcher and Rahul Koka. Pe...

#236 Revolutionizing Hand Hygiene in Anesthesia: A Path to Safer Surgeries

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if a simple change in routine could save lives in the operating room? Join us as we explore this possibility with Jonathan Charnin, who shares hi...

#235 Fresh Flow Podcast Takeover: Advancing Patient Safety from A to N to Zed

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us on a fascinating exploration with Alli Bechtel, a dedicated anesthesiologist and the Anesthesia Patient Safety podcast host, who reveals the s...

#234 Malignant Hyperthermia Preparedness: Insights and Updates

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to stay prepared for a rare but potentially life-threatening anesthesia complication like malignant hyperthermia (MH)? Join us as Dr...

#233 Revolutionizing Anesthesia: The Impact of Remimazolam

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the future of perioperative medicine with insights into remimazolam, the cutting-edge benzodiazepine poised to transform anesthesia practices. ...

#232 Embracing Safety and Sustainability in Anesthesia Care

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when a defective CO2 absorbent canister leads to ventilation failure during surgery? Our latest episode uncovers the hidden risks of hypo...

#231 Ensuring Anesthesia Safety: Risks of CO2 Canister Replacement and Technology Concerns

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What if a simple component replacement could jeopardize patient safety during surgery? Join us as we discuss critical anesthesia safety concerns with ...

#230 Bridging Communication Gaps: Ensuring Safe Anesthesia Care for Patients with Limited English Proficiency

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What impact do communication failures have on anesthesia patient safety, particularly for those with limited English proficiency? Join us as we welcom...

#229 Revolutionizing Anesthesia Care for Cardiac Patients: Shorter and Safer Dual Antiplatelet Therapy with Next-Gen Stents

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What if the future of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) could be shorter, safer, and more effective? Uncover the latest insights into drug-eluting sten...

#228 The Journey of Drug-Eluting Stents and Anesthesia Patient Safety

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What if the future of cardiac care meant shorter duration of dual antiplatelet therapy without compromising safety? Join us as we explore this possibi...

#227 Technology's Impact on Patient Safety: Insights from Filmmaker Mike Eisenberg

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for an enlightening conversation with documentary filmmaker Mike Eisenberg, where we explore the transformative role of technology in patient ...

#226 From the Ballpark to the Big Screen: Patient Safety's Next Generation

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Documentary film director, Mike Eisenberg, shares his compelling journey from playing minor league baseball to directing films that change lives. Insp...

#225 Collaborative Guidelines for Safe Anesthesia in OSA

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can anesthesia care for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impact patient safety during surgery? Join me, Alli Bechtel, as I unravel the comp...

#224 Staying Legal: Recording Conversations during Anesthesia Care

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wiretap laws might seem like a distant concern, but in the realm of clinical practice, they could be more relevant than you think. What if a simple au...

#223 Navigating Wiretap Laws in Clinical Practice: Insights for Anesthesia Professionals

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how wiretap laws impact your daily clinical interactions and patient safety measures? Discover the complexities of these laws with insig...

#222 Best Practices for External Ventricular Drain Management - Part 3 of 3

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the secrets to enhancing patient safety with our comprehensive discussion on the External Ventricular Drain (EVD) Safety Campaign. Ever wondere...

#221 Enhancing Patient Safety in Neurocritical Care: Best Practices for Managing External Ventricular Drains with Dr. Abhijit Lele - Part 2 of 3

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Curious about the best practices for managing patients with External Ventricular Drains (EVDs) during anesthesia and ICU transport? Join us as we talk...

#220 Enhancing Patient Safety with External Ventricular Drains: Launching the EVD Safety Campaign - Part 1 of 3

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Curious about how to enhance patient safety with external ventricular drains or EVDs? Join us as we unravel the intricacies of EVDs and their pivotal ...

#219 Optimizing Outcomes in Anesthesia Care: Spotlight on Intraoperative Hypotension

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the secrets to improving anesthesia patient safety as we tackle the critical issue of intraoperative hypotension. Did you know that hypotension...

#218 Unmasking the Risks: The Dangers of Low Blood Pressure During Surgery

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered about the dangers of low blood pressure during surgery? This episode features Amy Yerdon, a certified registered nurse anesthetist and a...

#217 Residents in a Room Podcast Takeover: Redefining Leadership in Anesthesiology

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are sharing the Residents in a Room Podcast episode #65 on Nontraditional Pathways - Leadership. Unlock the secrets of non-traditional leadership p...

#216 Guarding Against Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression in Kids

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Discover the critical steps to safeguarding pediatric patients from opioid-induced respiratory depression in our latest episode featuring experts Tric...

#215 Protecting Pediatric Patients from Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression: Expert Insights and Strategies

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do we keep our youngest and most vulnerable patients safe from the deadly threat of opioid-induced respiratory depression? On this episode of the ...

#214 Navigating Anesthesia in Concussed Patients: Insights and Challenges

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can administering anesthesia to patients with concussions lead to complications? Join host, Alli Bechtel, as we unpack the pivotal findings from an in...

#213 Medication Labeling Errors and Anesthesia for Patients with Concussions

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can you imagine the horror of a medication mix-up between the overwrap and the infusion bag? In this episode, we tackle a crucial ISMP alert concernin...

#212 Comprehensive Approaches to Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease and Workplace Violence Prevention

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ensuring the safety of pediatric patients with sickle cell disease during anesthesia care can be a complex and demanding task, but what if you had a d...

#211 Safeguarding Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease During Anesthesia: Expert Insights and Strategies

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the secrets to safeguarding pediatric patients with sickle cell disease during anesthesia. Join us for an enlightening discussion on the APSF a...

#210 Preventing Deadly Errors: Unpacking Safe Practices for Medication Administration in the OR

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can the simple act of changing medication packaging save lives? On this week's Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast, we uncover the alarming truth a...

#209 Preventing Catastrophic Medication Errors: The Dangers of TXA and Bupivacaine Mix-ups

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us on the Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast as we confront a critical patient safety issue: the recurring wrong drug, wrong route errors involvin...

#208 It's an OpenAnesthesia Takeover Show

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the secrets of enhancing perioperative patient safety with insights from experts in anesthesiology and critical care. Join us as we welcome Dr....

#207 Patient Safety During Prone Positioning, Loss of Resistance Syringe Concerns, and Lidocaine versus Fentanyl for Induction

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the essential strategies for ensuring patient safety during anesthesia in the prone position! On this episode, host Alli Bechtel welcomes Taizo...

#206 Enhancing Safety During Anesthesia Care in the Prone Position

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What if the prone position during anesthesia is more hazardous than you think? Equip yourself with crucial knowledge about the overlooked risks and ph...

#205 Safeguarding Patients: Navigating the Dangers of Prone Positioning

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered about the underappredicated dangers of prone positioning during surgery? Join me, Alli Bechtel, as we navigate the complexities and risk...

#204 Cultivating Excellence in Anesthesia Teams: Trust, Communication, and Patient Safety

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Discover the essential elements of a high-functioning anesthesia care team with our special guest Matthew Sherrer from the University of Alabama at Bi...

#203 Enhancing Perioperative Patient Safety through Situational Awareness

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Discover how mastering situational awareness can revolutionize your approach to perioperative patient safety in our latest podcast episode. We are joi...

#202 Teamwork, Civility, and the Quest for Patient Safety: A Fresh Flow Podcast Takeover

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Embark on a journey through the interplay of teamwork, civility, and patient safety with our esteemed guests, Matt Sherrer and Mitch Tsai from the Fre...

#201 Enhancing Regional Anesthesia Practices for Superior Patient Safety, Part 2

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever found yourself grappling with the complexities of peripheral nerve blocks and patient safety? This episode is a treasure trove of insights as we ...