About this episode

The episode discusses the evolving understanding of anaphylaxis, emphasizing its respiratory implications and the importance of early adrenaline treatment.

Anaphylaxis is one of those conditions we think we have got pretty well sorted. Recognise it early, give adrenaline, support the airway and circulation, and crack on. And in fairness, for the vast majority of patients, that approach works really well. But in this Roadside to Resus episode we take a step back and ask a pretty uncomfortable question, have we actually been thinking about anaphylaxis in the wrong way? Using some fascinating new evidence from the UK National Child Mortality Database, we explore the emerging understanding that fatal food-triggered anaphylaxis may be much more of a respiratory catastrophe than the classic circulatory collapse we often picture in our heads. The findings are genuinely thought provoking. Many of the fatal paediatric cases reviewed showed overwhelming airway and breathing compromise long before cardiovascular collapse occurred, with deterioration happening frighteningly quickly in the prehospital phase. We work through the current Resuscitation Council UK and NICE guidance, look at where diagnostic confusion still exists, and discuss why early adrenaline absolutely remains the cornerstone of treatment. But we also explore whether our mental…

More episodes of The Resus Room

• Laryngectomy and Tracheostomy Emergencies; Roadside to Resus · July 15, 2026 · 50 min
• July 2026; papers of the month · June 30, 2026 · 32 min
• Excellence in Facemask Ventilation; Roadside to Resus · June 15, 2026 · 59 min
• June 2026; papers of the month · May 31, 2026 · 32 min
• May 2026; papers of the month · April 30, 2026 · 34 min
• Excellence in Defibrillation; Roadside to Resus · April 7, 2026 · 47 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Resus Room podcast page.