TopMedTalk

TopMedTalks to Rupert Pearse | ESAIC 2023

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our coverage of Euroanesthesia 2023 continues; The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is the leading European Organisation...

Hemodynamics and Fluid Management | ESAIC 2023

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our coverage of Euroanesthesia 2023 continues; The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is the leading European Organisation...

The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists | ESAIC 2023

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our coverage of Euroanesthesia 2023 continues; The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is the leading European Organisation...

Oxygen - too much of a good thing? | ESAIC 2023

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our coverage of Euroanesthesia 2023 continues; The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is the leading European Organisation...

The Future of Intensive Care with Jean-Louis Vincent | ESAIC 2023

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our coverage of Euroanesthesia 2023 continues; The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is the leading European Organisation...

TopMedTalks to Bernd Saugel and Thomas Scheeren | ESAIC 2023

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our coverage of Euroanesthesia 2023 continues; The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is the leading European Organisation...

TopMedTalks to Joyce Yeung | ESAIC 2023

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is the leading European Organisation for Anaesthesia, Intensive Care, Pain and Peri...

The opening ceremony | ESAIC 2023

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Monty Mythen, Desiree Chappell and Andy Cumpstey talk you through the opening ceremony of Euroanaesthesia 2023. Should we be advocating "supported" ra...

Welcome to the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care | ESAIC 2023

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TopMedTalk is live from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. We will be bringing you interviews from the conference as well as ...

Beat burnout with patient centered, provider focused, care | TopMedTalk

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Time to focus on “burnout”; this piece looks back at the coverage TopMedTalk did during the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). We’re p...

Talks to... Lee Fleisher | TopMedTalk

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is the wider view when it comes to perioperative medicine and anesthesiology? How and why should we become leaders, what opportunities for change...

Anesthesiology and the bigger picture | TopMedTalk

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we revisit one of the most popular moments from our coverage of Anesthesiology 2022; a conversation about the big picture theme of TopMedTal...

Talks to trainee representative Cameron Dunn | TopMedTalk

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece focuses upon trainee led research as Monty Mythen and Desiree Chappell speak with this year's trainee representative Cameron Dunn, Consulta...

The International Prehabilitation and Perioperative Exercise Testing Society - IPOETTS | EBPOM World Conference

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast is part of the historic meeting which officially announed the merging of the Perioperative Exercise Testing and Training Society (POETTS)...

Welfare and Advocacy | TopMedTalk

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welfare and advocacy, a wide topic which intersects a little with the subject of burnout. How do we put our patients first while still listening to ou...

Disability and patient centered outcomes | TopMedTalk

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece focuses upon disability and patient centered outcomes. Hear Monty Mythen and Desiree Chappell speaking with Duminda Wijeysundera, Professo...

Opioids; clinician versus patient expectations | TopMedTalk

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Opiods and clinician versus patient expectations. This conversation covers all the key areas; how to reduce opioid use, where ketamine might fit into...

Environmental sustainability; first, do no harm | TopMedTalk

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Jess Davies is a staff anaesthetist at Austin Health who has a proven track record of being passionate about implementing environmentally sustainab...

Clinical Trials Network in Europe and Australasia | TopMedTalk

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is a 'clinical trials network' and why is it important? This piece explores one of ANZCA’s Annual Scientific Meeting’s big talking points wit...

Perioperative Care in Australia and New Zealand | TopMedTalk

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece is a conversation with two fascinating guests who are in attendance at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Annual Scien...

ANZCA Day 2 Live Coverage | TopMedTalk

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Desiree and Monty break down the schedule for TopMedTalk over the year. Where we’ll be and what we’ll be doing. How to get involved and where to ...

What do you know about REMAP-CAP? | TopMedTalk

06 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece focuses upon the “REMAP-CAP” trial; A Randomised, Embedded, Multi-factorial, Adaptive Platform Trial for Community-Acquired Pneumonia. ...

Neurocognition after surgery | TopMedTalk

06 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The subject of this piece is; neurocognition, after surgery and major anesthesia. We reference previous episodes of TopMedTalk, linked to in the footn...

Diversity and gender balance in research | TopMedTalk

06 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Diversity and gender balance is an important part of the bigger picture in medicine. This piece looks at the facts. Monty Mythen and Desiree Chappell ...

The ANZCA Diploma in Perioperative Medicine | TopMedTalk

06 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“This week sees the launch of our diploma in perioperative medicine” Hear Desiree Chappell and Monty Mythen speaking with Vanessa Beavis, Immediat...

Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, conference begins | TopMedTalk

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) is the professional body responsible for the specialties of anaesthesia and pain medic...

Perfusion - not just pressure! Predict, diagnose and treat underlying cause. Don’t just ‘squeeze’! | TopMedTalk Highlight

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This essential TopMedTalk Highlight represents the culmination of a number of important threads we’ve been examining over the last few years around ...

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists | TopMedTalk

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece is a reflection of the fact that The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Annual General Meeting is coming up this weekend, we hope ...

Where are you with perioperative care? Part 2 | EBPOM World Congress

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece is a question and answer session, it's divided into two parts, this is part two. Following on from our previous podcasts, https://topmedta...

Talks to... Jiapeng Huang | TopMedTalk

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our coverage of annual International Anesthesia Research Society, (IARS) meeting organised with the Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA) ...

Interoperative hypotension study group; USAP and NorthStar Anesthesia | TopMedTalk

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This conversation is one of the key reasons we wanted to attend the annual general meeting of the International Anesthesia Research Society, in associ...

Where are you with perioperative care? Part 1 | EBPOM World Congress

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Following on from our previous podcasts, https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/a-patients-perioperative-perspective-ebpom-world-congress / https://topmedtal...

Live from IARS AUA SOCCA on Day 2 | TopMedTalk

15 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece released ‘as live’ from the annual International Anesthesia Research Society, (IARS) meeting organised with the Association of Univer...

Talks to.. Wael Saasouh, NorthStar Anesthesia | TopMedTalk

15 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TopMedTalk’s exclusive coverage of #IARS2023 continues; the annual International Anesthesia Research Society, (IARS) meeting organised with the Asso...

Live from IARS AUA SOCCA | TopMedTalk

14 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece released ‘as live’ from the annual International Anesthesia Research Society, (IARS) meeting organised with the Association of Universi...

What’s new in education and training in perioperative care? | EBPOM World Congress

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Steven Evans, Center for Perioperative Care (CPOC) Fellow and anaesthetic trainee (ST7) provides a full update on what’s new in education and traini...

ESSENTIAL UPDATE: The Center for Perioperative Care | EBPOM World Congress

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“The Center for Perioperative Care (CPOC) was set up as a cross organisational collaboration with the patients at the heart of it; focusing on impro...

A Patient's perioperative perspective | EBPOM World Congress

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Laurence Mudford (see full bio below) provides the patient perspective and here begins a discussion about perioperative care; what is it, what do peop...

Does increased volume improve cancer outcomes? Part 3 | EBPOM World Congress

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is part three of a three part piece. Although it works as a stand alone podcast we suggest you find time to loop back on episodes one ( here: ht...

Does increased volume improve cancer outcomes? Part 2 | EBPOM World Congress

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is part two of a three part piece. Part one ( here: https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/does-increased-volume-improve-cancer-outcomes-ebpom-world-con...

Does increased volume improve cancer outcomes? | EBPOM World Congress

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece is a short introduction to the subject of “volume and cancer outcomes” which is presented by Shaman Jhanj, Head of Anaesthesia and Inte...

Perioperative Anaemia Part 3 - Roundtable | EBPOM London

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Part three continues our investigation into perioperative anemia, following on from our exclusive reaction and analysis to the Centre For Perioperativ...

Perioperative Anaemia Part 2 - Roundtable | EBPOM London

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Center for Perioperative Care (CPOC) is ‘a cross-specialty collaboration dedicated to the promotion, advancement and development of perioperativ...

Perioperative Anaemia with Scarlett McNally | EBPOM London

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Center for Perioperative Care (CPOC) is ‘a cross-specialty collaboration dedicated to the promotion, advancement and development of perioperativ...

Tom Crean: Antarctic Explorer | EBPOM Ireland 2022

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A stand out moment from Dingle’s Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) conference; the inaugural Tom Crean Plenary Lecture, presented by Mik...

Do you need non-physician anaesthesia providers? | EBPOM Dingle

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Royal Collage of Anesthetists (RCoA) are re-evaluating in the face of a global crisis; where do you stand in the forthcoming debate? This piece, c...

Morpheus Plenary Lecture: Exercise is a Perioperative medicine | EBPOM World Congress 2022

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I personally think this is a worse pandemic than the one we’ve just had and it’s impact - if we don’t do something about it - is going to be ...

Michael Champeau - President of The American Society of Anesthesiologists | Anesthesiology 2022

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Please share thi...

The National Institute for Health and Care Research | EBPOM London

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This piece looks at how The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is taking an active role in perioperative medicine and surgery; add...

Looking back on 2022 Part 2 | TopMedTalk

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In 2022 we covered many live events and conferences both on the subject of anesthesia and perioperative medicine; we produced audio versions of some o...

Looking back on 2022 | TopMedTalk

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TopMedTalk's 2022 retrospective covers some of the big topics of the year in perioperative medicine: Perioperative diabetes management; Connected Heal...

The Heart – An Elegant Pump | EBPOM Ireland 2022

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This entertaining talk is a rewarding look at the heart in a linguistic and cultural context; what does the word and the heart itself actually mean to...

Four key concepts regarding training in Anaesthesia | Dingle 2022

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Originally entitled “The Future of Training” this talk evaluates four key concepts in anaesthesia training. It was originally presented as part of...

Protecting the brain in the vulnerable patient | Dingle 2022

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As patients live longer their needs are becoming more acute during surgery; this piece asks how we can adapt practice to meet the new challenges this ...

Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERAS) - Is it really that different? | Dingle 2022

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This vital conversation comes in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis; how different is enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and does it really get the r...

The future of the anaesthetic workforce in the UK (Part 2 - Q&A session) | EBPOM 2022

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week we have the Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) Visiting Professor Plenary Lecture question and answer session for; "The future of...

The Perioperative Quality Improvement | TopMedTalk

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“This is not a book about the current evidence, this is a book about how you keep making things better in perioperative care”. TopMedTalk speaks w...

Efficient Trial Design; ‘evidence’ in the era of ‘Big Data’ | Dingle 2022

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This fundamental conversation is given a fresh perspective during one of the stand out moments of the recent Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EB...

Essential Update: Perioperative Quality Initiative POQI Part 3 | EBPOM 2022

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is the concluding Q&A session regarding the Perioperative Quality Initiative (POQI). Please listen to parts 1 and 2 here: Part 1: https://directo...

Essential Update: Perioperative Quality Initiative POQI Part 2 | EBPOM 2022

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the Perioperative Quality Initiative (POQI) and why is this episode always a popular download - each year - for TopMedTalk listeners? How can ...

Essential Update: Perioperative Quality Initiative POQI Part 1 | EBPOM 2022

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the Perioperative Quality Initiative (POQI) and why is this episode always a popular download - each year - for TopMedTalk listeners? How can ...

The importance of pre-operative optimisation | Anesthesiology 2022

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

Perioperative Medicine | Anesthesiology 2022

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

Randall M. Clark, a year in review, as ASA President | Anesthesiology 2022

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

The ASA Global Scholars Program Part 2 | Anesthesiology 2022

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

The ASA Global Scholars Program Part 1 | Anesthesiology 2022

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

Creating high reliability using Tele ICU | Anesthesiology 2022

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

Burnout; a systemic problem in need of systemic, organizational, policy-level solutions | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

The vision for the future of ANESTHESIOLOGY® | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

The DETECT study | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

Anesthesiology Journal | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

Monitoring the Unmonitored | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

Game-changing Tech: Infusion Pump Usability with Anesthesia in Mind | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

Provider burnout and wellbeing | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Here we focus up...

Podcasting in anesthesiology and medicine | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

TopMedTalks to Lee Fleisher | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

The future of the anaesthetic workforce in the UK - a personal view William Harrop-Griffiths | EBPOM 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week's podcast is the Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) Visiting Professor Plenary Lecture; "The future of the anaesthetic workforce ...

Perioperative applications for R.F.I.D. | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

Advances in Low Flow Anesthesia | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

AI and Autonomous Systems in the Perioperative Setting | Anesthesiology 2022

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"The system is not going to work by itself but just under the control of the clinicians; so it's always ... human and machine together." -- Celebratin...

Periop evaluation of HPI in Orthotopic Liver Transplant | Anesthesiology 2022

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

The ASA’s Intraoperative Hypotension Measure | Anesthesiology 2022

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). This piece is pr...

Point-of-Care Ultrasound; Concept to Application | Anesthesiology 2022

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the Amercan Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presented...

Global Humanitarian Outreach with Elizabeth Drum | Anesthesiology 2022

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

Day 1 Introduction | Anesthesiology 2022

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is an intro...

Pain and P.O.N.V. in the Perioperative Setting | Anesthesiology 2022

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This piece is presente...

TopMedTalk is now live streaming | Anesthesiology 2022

22 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrating 5 years of TopMedTalk at 'Anesthesiology'; the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.  This piece is presen...

Anesthesiology - a retrospective | TopMedTalk at the ASA Part 2

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you missed part one of this series it can be found in full here: https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/anesthesiology-a-retrospective-topmedtalk-at-the-as...

The value proposition of industry partnerships | EBPOM USA

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the value proposition when approaching industry partnerships; is there such a thing as information overload; where on the perioperative contin...

Anesthesiology - a retrospective | ASA

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

TopMedTalk’s long and proud association with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) means we’ve had the chance to interview many of the P...

Defining a best case scenario for post operative value | EBPOM USA

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"Good surgeons are good communicators" How do we define a best case scenario for post operative value? What are the post operative realities and behav...

Optimizing intraoperative management | EBPOM USA

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This wide ranging discussion from Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) USA asks how we should best try to manage the intraoperative period, w...

Talks to ... Adam Spiegel, CEO, NorthStar Anesthesia | AANA 2022

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"A very different philosophy of going about the business of anesthesia..." Where are CRNA's placed in the current market. What are going to be the pit...

Women in Anesthesia | AANA 2022

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

TopMedTalk's coverage of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology's 2022 conference continues with another installment of "Women in Anesthesia...

The Great Fluid Debate | EBPOM 2022

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"And the good news is that we may or may not have an answer to this fluid debate that's been running now for 25 years..." The Great Fluid Debate is a ...

Are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists set to become more valuable? | AANA 2022

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"It's not just about us [Anesthesia]. It's about all the stakeholders that are invested" How can the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AAN...

Exclusive conversation with the President | AANA 2022

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA's) handle meeting with you ahead of time; alleviating your fears of surgery; getting an extensive healt...

Perioperative Medicine, the value proposition | EBPOM USA

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

EBPOM USA gets off to an incredible start; the value proposition which drives the push towards perioperative medicine on both sides of the Atlantic. H...

The value of information | EBPOM USA

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the value proposition when it comes to data, when does data become information and how do we mitigate between useful monitoring and an irrelev...