TopMedTalk

At the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) held in Auckland, New Zealand, Kate Leslie and Andy Cumpstey interview incoming ANZCA president Tanya Selak and incoming FPM Dean Michael Veltman about their goals in the next two years and the challenges ahead, and their appreciation of the hard work and commitment of fellows and trainees at the coalface. Dr Tanya Selak is a consultant anaesthetist in Woolongong, Australia. Professor Michael Veltman is consultant pain medicine physician in Perth, Australia. -- -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

New Presenter Amy Gomes and Andy Cumpstey interview this year's WFSA scholars. We speak with Drs Gabriela Queiroz Do Amaral, Emyedu Andrew, Jedniphat Intrapongpan, and Loreen Sharma. The WFSA Scholarship Programme offers valuable opportunities for early-career anaesthesiologists from low- and middle-income countries to attend international and regional meetings. Find out more now about this exciting opportunity here: https://wfsahq.org/our-work/education-training/wfsa-scholarships/ -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

At the 19th World Congress of the Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WCSA 2026) in Marrakesh, TopMedTalk welcomes Desiree Chappell back alongside Kate Leslie to interview Professor Palesa Motshabi-Chakane, Associate Professor and Head of Anaesthesiology at the University of the Witwatersrand and her colleague, Dr Mullai Slave a PhD candidate at University of the Witwatersrand. They discuss a study of 629 women undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, where 23–33% are HIV positive. Using standard monitoring plus BD APM noninvasive continuous hemodynamic monitoring, they compared HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients and found higher hypotension incidence in HIV-positive women (68% vs 64%), with lower heart rate and lower cardiac index over 60 minutes. Additional testing included echocardiography with speckle tracking, pro-BNP, and autonomic assessments, with HIV-positive patients showing stiffer ventricles; Apgar scores did not differ. They discuss replication, multicenter research, and potential machine-learning tools to predict hypotension risk, and describe BD Advanced Patient Monitoring grant support enabling equipment, sensors, staffing, and training (~200 staff) to complete data collection in about six months. Edwards Lifesciences is now known as Becton Dickinson Advanced Patient Monitoring (BD APM). Desiree Chappell, former Co Editor in Chief of TopMedTalk, is now Director, Medical Science Liaison, Medical Affairs, BD Advanced Patient Monitoring. The views expressed on this program are her own and not those of her employers. We mention Adrian Gelb, if you'd like to hear his recent conversation with us go here: https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/professor-adrian-gelb-on-patient-safety-and-essential-medicines-in-anaesthesia -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

Our coverage of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists annual conference begins with an exclusive conversation with this year's recipients of the WFSA Blood Health Innovation Award, Vijay Anand Ismavel and Ann Miriam Devarathnam. Andy Cumpstey finds out about their collaborative project with Kerala Digital University to develop an intraoperative auto-transfusion device, designed to recycle a patient's own blood during surgery in resource-constrained environments. For more information about this device, see: https://jogs.one/icigs_1003_70/ -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

Part two of our retrospective on TopMedTalk's coverage of last year's fascinating ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, USA. This is part two of a two part piece. Part 1 is here: https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/anesthesiology-2025-digest-part-1 This podcast contains clips and discussion from the following podcasts in our free archive: Exciting news from Desiree Chappell https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/exciting-news-from-desiree-chappell Innovations in Anesthesia: GE Healthcare's Advanced Solutions at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/innovations-in-anesthesia-ge-healthcares-advanced-solutions-at-anesthesiology-2025 Exploring the Future of Perioperative Care: Insights from ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/exploring-the-future-of-perioperative-care-insights-from-anesthesiology-2025 Perioperative Profile, Steven Shafer https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/perioperative-profile-steven-shafer Optimizing Pediatric Blood Health: Insights from ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/optimizing-pediatric-blood-health-insights-from-anesthesiology-2025 Exploring Viscoelastic Testing and Patient Blood Management at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/exploring-viscoelastic-testing-and-patient-blood-management-at-anesthesiology-2025 Insights from ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025: Enhancing Research and Publishing in Obstetric Anesthesia https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/insights-from-anesthesiology-2025-enhancing-research-and-publishing-in-obstetric-anesthesia Understanding Medical Errors: Cognitive Basis and Systemic Solutions at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/understanding-medical-errors-cognitive-basis-and-systemic-solutions-at-anesthesiology-2025 Insights from ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025: Surgical Site Infections, Oxygen Therapy, and Thermoregulation https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/insights-from-anesthesiology-2025-surgical-site-infections-oxygen-therapy-and-thermoregulation Advancing Patient-Centered Monitoring Outcomes ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/advancing-patient-centered-monitoring-outcomes-anesthesiology-2025 Adrian Gelb on Neuroanesthesia, Global Patient Safety, and WFSA-WHO International Standards https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/adrian-gelb-on-neuroanesthesia-global-patient-safety-and-wfsa-who-international-standards -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

TopMedTalk is proud to present Perioperative Profiles. This month we speak with Rupert Pearse, OBE, professor of intensive care medicine at Queen Mary University of London and a consultant at Royal London Hospital, known for his research on improving outcomes in high-risk surgical patients. In this fascinating piece we speak about his career in perioperative and critical care medicine. Raised in rural Bedfordshire as a farmer's son, he switched late from plans to study agriculture to medicine, took a year out working as an auxiliary nurse and carer, and entered St George's, London, where an intercalated BSc introduced him to research. He reflects on receiving an OBE, and outlines future priorities: growing his East London research group, global health collaborations, leadership, mentorship, and health equity. Like this? You may enjoy our interview with Bruce Biccard from 2024: https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/talks-to-bruce-biccard-tmt-in-prato -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

At the Royal College of Anaesthetists' Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) Perioperative Leads Day in London, host Andy Cumpstey speaks with James White, a perioperative medicine clinician (and qualified general practitioner) working within the NHS in Cheshire and Merseyside, serving as Clinical Lead for Perioperative Medicine and contributing to national improvement work with the Centre for Perioperative Care, Simon Rang, consultant anaesthetist at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust who also contributes to national healthcare improvement work including with the Centre for Perioperative Care, and Denny Levett, Director of the Centre for Perioperative Care, and a Professor of Perioperative Medicine and Critical Care and Consultant at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Southampton. The conversation covers how UK perioperative medicine policy is implemented through evolving NHS structures. They explain the relationship between national policy (Department of Health, NHS England) and delivery via regions, integrated care boards (ICBs), and local trusts, emphasizing integrated pathways spanning primary and secondary care, particularly post-COVID. James outlines five core requirements: early perioperative screening, proactive optimization/prehabilitation, maintaining health while waiting, listing patients only when medically fit, and shared decision-making. The guests discuss how regional and ICB networks share solutions, address variation and barriers (including finances and culture), and use CPOC guidance and resources alongside initiatives like GIRFT to support consistent implementation. -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

Andy Cumpstey is joined by Christian Macutkiewicz Consultant General, HPB and Hernia Surgeon at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Director of The Gallstone Clinic and Manchester Hernia at Spire Manchester Hospital and the incoming President of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, and Dimitris Damaskos Consultant General Surgeon within the Department of Surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (NHS Lothian), Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. They discuss the postoperative period as a critical part of the perioperative journey, emphasizing the importance of clear postoperative communication, reassurance even after "successful" operations, and explaining complications and expected recovery timelines. They highlight challenges in recognizing deterioration, including reduced reliance on clinical examination skills among junior doctors and the systems-based concept of "failure to rescue," arguing that consistent ward-based recognition systems and high-volume units help detect complications earlier. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways are cited, including using day-3 CRP thresholds to trigger CT imaging for early detection of anastomotic leak. They note post-COVID pressures to clear surgical backlogs have increased situations where patients are operated on by surgeons who did not initially see them, potentially weakening trust and continuity when complications occur, and they discuss flattening hierarchy so trainees can do ward rounds with consultant support. The conversation covers future technology, including AI for risk stratification and imaging interpretation, and remote continuous vital-sign monitoring, while acknowledging data governance challenges and potential deskilling. The episode closes with a discussion of robotic surgery: improved optics and precision and usefulness for more complex cases (including abdominal wall reconstruction), but with concerns about cost, rollout, training implications, and differing adoption between the UK, US, and New Zealand. -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

Andy Cumpstey welcomes Joseph Alderman, a clinical lecturer in anaesthesia at the University of Birmingham, to discuss the hurdles AI faces in the healthcare sector. Dr. Alderman, who has a background in cell biology and immunometabolism, shares his insights into why AI technologies often fail to reach patients. He identifies three primary challenges: misalignment between AI development and healthcare needs, inadequate resourcing, and premature solution-oriented thinking. The conversation also touches on the importance of involving patients and clinicians in the AI development process and an exciting new initiative by Dr. Alderman's team to create a health chatbot user guide. The episode concludes with a look into regulatory challenges and the need for better patient empowerment and risk management in AI-driven healthcare. -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025, the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and Desiree Chappell hosts Professor Michael Scott from the University of Rochester and Dr Wael Saasouh, director of research for NorthStar Anesthesia. The discussion centers on the evolution of patient-centered monitoring, the importance of continuous hemodynamic monitoring, and the broader implications of hemodynamic instability. The guests delve into their recent consensus paper with the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation and highlight the need for more comprehensive monitoring technologies that are accessible and cost-effective. The conversation also explores international collaborations, differences in practice settings (academic vs. private), and the future of enhanced recovery and post-operative care. -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

This piece takes us to The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) annual meeting in San Antonio, ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 where Andy Cumpstey is joined by co-host Desiree Chappell and guest Dr Joyce A. Wahr — Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota Medical School (Minneapolis, USA) and former Executive Medical Director of Perioperative Services at M Health Fairview and Vice-Chair for Quality & Safety. Joyce shares her journey from surgery residency to becoming a cardiac and thoracic anesthesiologist, and her involvement in patient safety. She discusses her Severinghaus Lecture titled 'It's Not Your Fault: The Cognitive Basis of Error,' discussing how subconscious processes generate errors beyond our control, and how we can implement barriers to prevent these errors from harming patients. The conversation delves into the cognitive mechanisms behind errors, the importance of system-level protections, and the role of technology in enhancing patient safety. -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

Andy Cumpstey discusses the significance of perioperative screening in improving patient outcomes with three experts from the field: Helen Andersen from University Hospitals Plymouth, Ruth de La Casas from Norfolk Norwich University Hospitals, and Neelaksi Desai from the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Glasgow. They delve into the challenges and advancements in preoperative screening methods, with a particular focus on digital approaches and interdisciplinary cooperation. Key themes include optimizing patient care through early assessments, leveraging digital tools for efficient triage, and overcoming obstacles such as funding and system fragmentation. The discussion also highlights the importance of collaboration between primary and secondary care and the potential of digital solutions to streamline the screening process. -- Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025, Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie speak with Ruthi Landau, Virginia Apgar, Professor of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center and recently appointed editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia. The conversation dives deep into the importance of writing, reviewing, and publishing high-quality research. Dr. Landau highlights the significance of addressing relevant research questions, improving patient outcomes, and the evolving landscape of scientific publishing. The episode also explains strategies for reviewers and authors aiming to contribute impactful studies and the value of editorials in contextualizing research. The discussion concludes with the importance of social media and digital tools in disseminating and engaging with published content. -- Super Early Bird registration is now open for The Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London, but it ends on 31 January! We are right now offering the best available rates to attend the Congress. We encourage you to register early and take advantage of this opportunity while you still can. Register here - https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/