In this episode of Airwayve, join Jenny and Alex as they discuss patients receiving prone positioning in the OR. We first start with the basics- what prone positioning looks like, how patients are safely flipped, and which surgeries require it. From there, we unpack the physiologic changes across cardiac, respiratory, and neurologic systems, and dive into the major complications anesthetists need to anticipate, including peripheral nerve injury, postoperative vision loss, airway challenges, and line access issues.

To bring it all together, we walk through a clinical case of a patient undergoing complex spine surgery, applying these principles to real-world anesthetic planning, intraoperative management, and emergence considerations.

Whether you’re preparing for your OR rotation or brushing up on perioperative physiology, this episode will give you a clear, structured framework for thinking about anesthetic management in prone positioning.

Credits
Writers: Alexander Xiang, Jenny Xinye Hu
Editors: Alexander Xiang, Jenny Xinye Hu
Resident Editor: Dr. Jonathan Wu
Staff Reviewer: Dr. Juan Bravo Montilla

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In this episode of Airwayve, your hosts Alex and Jenny tackle anaesthetic considerations for patients with elevated intracranial pressure. Join us as we break down the core anatomy and physiology behind ICP, explore common pathologies  and discuss the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies used to manage these complex patients in the OR. From choosing the right induction agents to adjusting ventilation and perfusion targets, this episode is packed with essential pearls for medical students and early learners navigating neurosurgical cases. Stick around for a practice case to see how it all comes together!

Whether you’re prepping for your next rotation or brushing up on neuroanesthesia, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

Credits:
– Writer: Alexander Xiang
– Editors: Grace Huang, Winnie Liu
– Resident Editor: Dr. Hanna Levy
– Staff Reviewer: Dr. Tyler Oswald

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In this episode, Grace and Winnie sit down with their classmates Sanjum and Irene- newly matched anesthesia residents at McMaster and U of T- to reflect on their journeys to residency. From choosing electives to preparing for interviews, they share practical insights and honest reflections on the CaRMS process, parallel planning and personal growth along the way.

Whether you’re gearing up for CaRMS or just curious about the road to anesthesia, this one’s packed with wisdom you won’t want to miss!

Disclaimer: the advice shared in this episode is based solely on personal experiences as medical students navigating CaRMS. We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent, the McMaster University residency admissions committee or any other residency program. 

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Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace, alongside a special guest Dr. Sean Middleton to talk about medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Dr. Middleton is a staff anesthesiologist at Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital.  In addition to his work as an anesthesiologist, he is also involved in providing MAiD. Join us as we discuss his journey into anesthesia, how his background prepared him for work in MAiD, and the personal and professional insights he has gained through this important work.

Thank you Dr. Middleton for joining us on this episode.

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Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace, alongside a special guest Dr. Kathleen Wheeler to talk about palliative care. Dr. Wheeler works as a staff anesthesiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences. She completed a fellowship in palliative care at McMaster University, and actually helped to pilot this program between the Department of Anesthesia and the Division of Palliative Care. She now works as both an anesthesiologist and a palliative care physician. Join us as we discuss what palliative care is, her journey to this unique path, and what she envisions the future involvement of anesthesiologists in palliative care looks like!

Thank you Dr. Wheeler for joining us on this episode. 

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Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace, alongside a special guest Dr. Paul McHardy to talk about regional anesthesia. Dr. McHardy is a renowned regional anesthesiologist at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He previously served as the regional anesthesia fellowship director at Sunnybrook. Thank you to Dr. McHardy for kindly joining us on this episode. 

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Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Winnie and Grace, alongside a special guest Dr. Jose Carvalho, to talk about obstetrical anesthesia. Dr. Carvalho is the former Director of Obstetric Anesthesia at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and has contributed tremendously to this subspecialty. Tune in to hear about his career in obstetrical anesthesia, tips for medical students, and some useful triathlon tips! 

Thank you to Dr. Carvalho for kindly joining us on this episode. 

Addendum: At 2:19, we would like to make an edit and clarify that medical school training in Brazil is 6 years, instead of 5. 

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Join two of our new Airwayve hosts Alex and Jenny for an episode covering anesthetic considerations. In today's talk they cover obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity, including the anatomy and physiology, risk factors, and perioperative management of these patients. Don't snooze on this episode!

Credits: 
- Writer: Alexander Xiang, Jenny Hu
- Editor: Winnie Liu, Grace Huang
- Resident Editor: Dr. Bradley Murphy
- Staff Reviewer: Dr. Bosco Law

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Join us this month with Airwayve hosts Grace and Winnie, alongside a special guest Dr. Juan Camilo Segura Salguero, to talk about cardiac anesthesia. Dr. Segura is a staff anesthesiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, a subspecialist in cardiac anesthesia, and has also completed fellowships in Intensive Care and Thoracic Anesthesia at Toronto General Hospital. Tune in to hear about his journey in anesthesia, transesophageal echocardiograms, tips for medical students, and the best coffeeshops in the city!

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Join two of our new Airwayve hosts Irene and Alex for this month's episode covering pediatric anesthesia. In today's talk they give an overview of pediatric anesthesia, including a discussion of anatomy and physiology, preoperative and intraoperative considerations, and common pediatric problems. Remember, kids aren't just little adults, and this episode gives us a deep dive into why!

Credits:
– Writer: Irene Zhao
– Editor: Winnie Liu, Grace Huang
– Resident Editor: Dr. Grace Martin
– Staff Reviewer: Dr. Amanda Whippey

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