Critical Care Scenarios
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
An educational podcast presenting practical critical care scenarios. By Brandon Oto, PA-C and Bryan Boling, ACNP. New episodes weekly.
Episodes
- Lightning rounds 65: Global health with Kwame Boateng
We learn about how to contribute to underserved communities abroad, with Kwame Akuamoh-Boateng, DNP, ACNP-BC, FCCM. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! References
- Episode 101: Acalculous cholecystitis with Dennis Kim
Dennis Kim, trauma surgeon and surgical intensivist of the Trauma ICU Rounds podcast, weighs in on the diagnosis and management of acalculous cholecystitis. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Takeaway pearls
- Episode 100: Autoimmune encephalitis testing with Tammy Smith
Tammy Smith, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Utah within the division of Neuroimmunology and Autoimmune Neurology, and a clinical consultant at ARUP Laboratories, gives us the inside scoop on testing for autoimmune en…
- Lightning rounds 64: The new Surviving Sepsis guidelines with Hallie Prescott
Hallie Prescott, pulm/crit physician and co-chair of the recent Surviving Sepsis guideline writing committee, gives some insight into the new document, including a few interesting additions and some points of controversy. For more thoughts…
- Lightning rounds 63: How to be right, with Scott Weingart
Scott Weingart, ED intensivist and seminal educator from the EMCrit podcast, shares his thoughts on how we should be finding truth nowadays: how to read journals, choose experts, use AI, and resolve disagreement. Learn more at the Intensiv…
- Episode 99: RV failure in the MICU
We chat about managing a complex MICU patient with RV failure in the setting of renal failure and sepsis, with Amos Dodi, nocturnal intensivist at Einstein/Montefiore and author of a recent narrative review on the RV. Learn more at the Int…
- Lightning rounds 61: Credentialing and privileging, with Christopher Newman
We dive into the confusing rabbit hole of medical staffing, credentialing, and privileging, particularly for the critical care APP, with Chris Newman, pediatric critical care PA and Vice Chair for Clinical Performance at the University of…
- Lightning rounds 60: The nuances of insulin, with Melissa Nestor
We chat with Melissa Nestor, clinical pharmacist in neurocritical care, about tho subtleties of glucose and insulin management in the ICU. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy!
- Episode 98: Running rapid responses
We discuss the practicalities of running a rapid response, including crowd management, coordinating with primary services, working outside the ICU, and rapidly obtaining and synthesizing diagnostic data. Learn more at the Intensive Care Ac…
- Lightning rounds 59: The nuances of nebulizers, with Keith Lamb
We explore the practical intricacies of nebulized medications, including timing, dosing, types of devices, and more, with Keith Lamb (@kdlamb1), RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC, FCCM. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy!
- Episode 97: Managing ICP crisis
We explore the practical basics of managing an elevated ICP with impending herniation, including EVD troubleshooting, hyperosmolar therapies, and the role of craniectomy. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! References
- Episode 96: Understanding ammonia, with Prem Kandiah
With Dr. Prem Kandiah, neurointensivist, transplant intensivist, and ammonia enthusiast, we explore the physiology of hyperammonemia, the nuances of its measurement and interpretation, and unpack some less-recognized causes, including infe…
- Academy bites: Do you want to feel special?
Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy!
- Lightning rounds 58: Steroids for septic shock with David Janz
We dive into the common dilemma of when to give stress-dose corticosteroids in septic shock, with Dr. David Janz, pulm/crit intensivist with a Masters of Science in Clinical Investigation, former director of the Clinical Research Unit for…
- Lightning rounds 57: Burn critical care with Clint Leonard
We explore the fascinating intricacies and unique features of the burned critically ill patient, with Clint Leonard, NP in the burn ICU at Vanderbilt and ABLS instructor. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Want to work at the Univer…
- Episode 95: Spontaneous breathing trials with Martin Tobin
We discuss the evidence and practicalities of spontaneous breathing trials and ventilator weaning with Martin Tobin, pulmonologist and intensivist, author of seven textbooks including “Principles and Practice of Mechanical Ventilation,” re…
- Episode 94: Mastering seizure pharmacology with Tom Bleck
We explore the vagaries and nitty-gritty of drugs for seizure termination, including benzos and ASMs, with the great Tom Bleck, MD MCCM FNCS, neurointensivist, professor, and founding member of the Neurocritical Care Society. Check out the…
- Episode 93: Fluid in sepsis and the FloPatch, with Jon-Emile Kenny
We dive into fluid resuscitation in sepsis, with Dr. Jon-Emile Kenny, pulmonary and critical care physician, author of the physiology textbook Heart-lung.org, and inventor of the FloPatch device. Disclosures: Dr. Kenny appears here as both…
- Episode 92: PRIS and propylene glycol toxicity, with Jerry Snow
We discuss propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) and propylene glycol toxicity from lorazepam infusions, with medical toxicologist Dr. Jerry Snow, director of the toxicology fellowship at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. Learn more…
- Episode 91: A simulated goals of care conversation
Brandon and Bryan mock up a goals of care discussion for a critically ill patient, and reflect on the right and wrong ways to execute this complex procedure. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Resources Center to Advance Palliative…
- Episode 90: Sugammadex in the ICU, with Sara J Hyland
We chat about neuromuscular blockade, monitoring, and reversal in the ICU, including why sugammadex isn’t more widely used, with Sara J Hyland, PharmD, BCCCP, FCCP, researcher and clinical pharmacist in perioperative and emergency medicine…
- Lightning rounds 56: The CHEST Critical Care APP cert, with Leeah Sloan
We chat with Leeah Sloan, PA-C, co-chair of the Critical Care APP Steering Committee for the American College of CHEST Physicians (CHEST), about the newly available CHEST critical care certification for APPs. The Vandalia CAMC Charleston A…
- Special announcement: ICA 1-year anniversary
Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy!
- Academy bites: Specialization is breadth, not depth
Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy!
- Lightning rounds 55: APP fellowships with Melissa Bridges
Melissa Bridges, director of PA fellowships at Atrium Health and president of the Association of Post-graduate PA Programs (APPAP), chats with us (Bryan is president of APGAP, the Association of Post Graduate APRN programs) about PA/NP res…
- Lightning rounds 54: Medical musicians with Andrew Schulman
Andrew Schulman, medical musician, former ICU patient, and president of the Medical Musician Initiative, tells us how music can help the critically ill. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy!
- Lightning rounds 53: GI Q&A with Elliot Tapper
From constipation to hepatorenal syndrome. Fan favorite Elliot Tapper (@ebtapper, @ebtapper), gastroenterologist, transplant hepatologist, academic chief of hepatology, and director of the cirrhosis program at the University of Michigan, r…
- Special announcement: Academy CME accreditation
Visit the Intensive Care Academy
- Lightning rounds 52: Echo tips with Michael Lanspa
We chat with Dr. Michael Lanspa, intensivist and director of the Intermountain Critical Care Echocardiography Core Lab, about common pitfalls among bedside POCUS users and tricks for doing it better. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academ…
- Episode 89: Thrombectomy for stroke, with Justin Fraser
We explore the world of thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke with Justin F. Fraser (@doctorjfred), MD, FAANS, FAHA, Professor and Vice-Chair of Neurological Surgery and Director of Cerebrovascular Surgery and Neuro-interventional Radiolo…
- Episode 87: Maternal-fetal monitoring with Stephanie Martin
We learn about the basics of fetal monitoring in the critically ill pregnant woman and how to integrate them into our ICU workflows, with Stephanie Martin, MFM obstetrician and host of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast and teacher at th…
- Academy bites: The power of disagreeing
Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Find us on Patreon here! Buy your merch here!
- Episode 86: EEGs in the ICU with Carolina Maciel
We discuss the basics of EEG in the ICU, including when to do it, selecting the appropriate study, and the basics of bedside interpretation, with Carolina B Maciel, MD, MSCR, FAAN, triple boarded in neurology, neurocritical care, and criti…
- Lightning rounds 51: Hemodynamic interfaces with Philippe Rola
Philippe Rola, intensivist, master of the VEXUS scan, and founder of the Hospitalist and Resuscitationist conference, shares his recent model of four hemodynamic interfaces to describe the entire circulatory system. Register for the H&R co…
- Episode 88: ICU Liberation SCCM Congress 2025
A roundup from members of the SCCM’s ICU Liberation committee, recorded at SCCM Congress 2025. Included:
- Lightning rounds 50: Mastering PA catheter placement with Matt Siuba
We learn the vanishing art of placing the PA (Swan-Ganz) catheter, with intensivist and friend of the podcast Matt Siuba (@msiuba). Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Find us on Patreon here! Buy your merch here! Takeaway points Ref…
- Lightning rounds 49: The Vortex approach with Nicholas Chrimes
We learn about the Vortex approach to airway management, as well as airway algorithms and mental models in general, with Vortex creator and anesthesiologist Dr. Nicholas Chrimes, anaesthetist and cofounder of the Safe Airway Society. Learn…
- Episode 85: Tracheostomy basics with Vinciya Pandian
We discuss the basics of evaluation for tracheostomy placement, periprocedural care, and post-procedure complications with Vinciya Pandian, PhD, ACNP, FCCM, tracheostomy nurse practitioner and researcher. Learn more at the Intensive Care A…
- Academy bites: You were here when we were not
Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Find us on Patreon here! Buy your merch here!
- Episode 84: Acute liver failure with Sergio Navarrete
We discuss assessment, monitoring, medical stabilization, and when to consider transplant of the patient with acute liver failure. We are joined by Dr. Sergio Navarrete, anesthesiologist and intensivist with fellowship training in transpla…
- Episode 83: Cardiac arrest with Scott Weingart
We talk about the nitty-gritty details of a well-run cardiac arrest, with Scott Weingart of Emcrit (@emcrit), ED intensivist. Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Find us on Patreon here! Buy your merch here! Takeaway lessons Resources
- Lightning rounds 48: Complete airway closure with Thomas Piraino
We talk about the phenomenon of airway closure during mechanical ventilation, with Thomas Piraino, RRT, FCSRT, FAARC, adjunct lecturer for the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster University, editor of The Centre of Excellence in Mechanica…
- Episode 82: When it goes wrong
Our approach to common problems and troubleshooting: Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Find us on Patreon here! Buy your merch here!
- Lightning rounds 47: Post-op care transitions
We chat about the post-op transition of care from the OR to the ICU, including questions to ask, workflows, and pitfalls. Check out the Intensive Care Academy here! Bryan’s textbook: Concepts in Surgical Critical Care Find us on Patreon he…
- Episode 81: Bacterial meningitis with Casey Albin
We talk about diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent care of the patient with bacterial meningitis, with Emory neurointensivist Casey Albin, MD (@caseyalbin). Learn more at the Intensive Care Academy! Find us on Patreon here! Buy your merch…
- Lightning rounds 46: Nick Ghionni on combating cognitive bias
We chat with Nick Ghionni, pulm/crit attending at MedStar Baltimore Hospital, about identifying and combating cognitive biases in our clinical decision-making. Check out the Intensive Care Academy here! Find us on Patreon here! Buy your me…
- Episode 80: Implementing the A-F bundle with Kali Dayton
We discuss the practical barriers to implementing the A-F ICU liberation bundle, with Kali Dayton, ACNP-BC (@daytonicu), host of the Walking Home from the ICU podcast, and consultant to ICUs working on these issues. Learn more at the Inten…
- Lightning rounds 45: Noelia Bischoff on transitioning nursing roles
We chat with Noelia Bischoff, recently off orientation in the medical ICU at Johns Hopkins as a nurse practitioner, about the transition from her role as a bedside ICU nurse. Check out the Intensive Care Academy here! Find us on Patreon he…
- Episode 79: Transfusion reactions with Joe Chaffin
We discuss transfusion reactions, risks, and management, including infection, consent, TRALI, TACO, and hemolytic reactions—with Dr. Joe Chaffin (@bloodbankguy), the “Blood Bank Guy” and transfusion medicine specialist. Learn more at the I…
- Lightning rounds 44: Post-intubation sedation roundup
Experts in critical care share their approach to post-intubation sedation. Contributors: Check out the Intensive Care Academy here! Find us on Patreon here! Buy your merch here!