What if the anesthesia workstation could see trouble coming and stop it before it starts? We explore how anesthesia moves from reactive to predictive by blending AI, medical-grade wearables, and closed loop systems with a strong safety culture. The story of Alex—a 75-year-old who developed postoperative delirium and fell—anchors the stakes and shows how early signals, if recognized and acted on, can change a life.

We break down practical uses of machine learning in the perioperative space: forecasting hypotension minutes ahead, integrating multimodal physiologic data for real-time decision support, and taming alarm fatigue with smarter, context-aware alerts. From operating room monitors to infusion pumps, interoperability turns scattered data into timely action. 

Automation takes the next step with closed loop control. Imagine EEG-guided dosing that keeps hypnosis within target ranges, fluid and vasopressor titration that stabilizes hemodynamics, and a supervisory controller that coordinates these loops so clinicians can focus on communication, situational awareness, and patient advocacy. Through it all, safety culture remains the foundation: psychological safety, shared learning, and consistent prioritization of safety over short-term operational pressures. Technology should amplify the human connection, not replace it.

You’ll leave with a clear view of what to pilot now—AI decision support in high-yield scenarios, targeted wearable programs for high-risk pathways, and structured training that embeds safety into daily practice. If this vision sparks ideas or questions, reach out and join the conversation. Subscribe, share with a colleague who cares about perioperative safety, and leave a review to help more clinicians find the show.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/293-reimagining-anesthesia-with-ai-wearables-and-safety-culture/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

Maternal safety has never mattered more, and the stakes span far beyond the delivery room. We revisit four decades of progress in obstetric anesthesia—from safer neuraxial techniques and airway strategies to medication safeguards—and then get honest about what still puts patients at risk. With author insights and frontline examples, we connect the dots between evidence, teamwork, and the lived experience of childbirth to show where anesthesia can lead meaningful change.

Rising patient complexity reshapes our role. We lean into risk stratification with the Obstetric Comorbidity Index, proactive antenatal planning, and sustained postpartum follow-up. We address maternal mental health and substance use disorder with trauma-informed care and smarter pain plans. And we face inequity directly—why Black women bear disproportionate harm and how standardized pathways, equitable escalation, and advocacy move outcomes in the right direction. Looking ahead, we explore point-of-care ultrasound for neuraxial guidance and aspiration assessment, AI-driven tools for early detection, wearables for postpartum monitoring, and enhanced recovery after cesarean to cut variation and strengthen reliability.

Subscribe, share with a colleague on labor and delivery, and leave a review with one change you’ll make this week to advance maternal safety.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/292-forty-years-of-obstetric-anesthesia-progress-and-the-work-ahead/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

A cocaine-positive patient rolls into the OR and the monitors look fine—until twenty minutes after induction, when the blood pressure plummets. We unpack that swing from sympathetic surge to sudden crash through two real cases: an emergent trauma laparotomy complicated by asystole and a chronic intranasal user with profound hypotension that only responded to direct-acting vasopressors. From there, we connect the dots to the pharmacology that makes these events predictable and, with the right plan, manageable.

We talk candidly about what matters before wheels-in: timing of last use, objective signs of toxicity, and targeted testing. You’ll hear why urine screens can stay positive for weeks, why indirect agents like ephedrine can fail, and how phenylephrine or norepinephrine often become first-line choices. For regional anesthesia, we flag contamination risks and local anesthetic systemic toxicity concerns that call for dose adjustment and intralipid readiness. Chronic cocaine use adds another layer, including left ventricular dysfunction, myocardial infarction and fibrosis, and calcium dysregulation.

Hospital policy and equity loom large. Automatic cancellations for cocaine positive patients can worsen pain, delay care, and disproportionately impact patients with limited access. We review current evidence suggesting many asymptomatic, cocaine-positive patients tolerate elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia with hemodynamics comparable to controls when vigilant management is in place. The takeaway: build flexible, evidence-informed pathways that prioritize patient safety without reflexive delays, and keep a rescue mindset with careful monitoring and direct vasopressors within reach. If this sparked ideas for your practice, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review so more clinicians can find these insights.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/291-managing-anesthesia-risks-for-patients-with-acute-and-chronic-cocaine-use/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

A remarkable safety story runs through regional anesthesia, from the era of blind needle placement to a modern practice guided by real-time ultrasound, lipid rescue, and reliable team checklists. We walk through the key milestones that cut complications, accelerated block onset, and lowered conversion to general anesthesia, while keeping a clear eye on the hazards that remain. Along the way, we explain how a simple seven-point timeout helps prevent wrong-sided blocks and why ultrasound has reshaped dosing, local anesthetic spread confirmation, and failure rates.

We also dig into the numbers around local anesthetic systemic toxicity and neurologic injury, translating data into everyday decisions at the bedside. You’ll hear how improved dosing protocols, reduced volumes with ultrasound guidance, and rapid access to lipid therapy drive cardiac toxicity toward zero. We unpack the real contributors to failed blocks—anatomic variation, communication barriers, obesity, surgical factors, and experience—and share practical, high-yield steps for safer performance, from short-bevel needle selection to injection pressure monitoring and clear patient counseling.

Looking forward, we explore the next wave of tools transforming the block room: 3D and 4D ultrasound for richer visualization, needle tip tracking for faster and steadier trajectories, and pressure monitoring that warns before harm. We spotlight how AI could assist with ultrasound interpretation, trajectory planning, and complication prediction, while wearables and high-fidelity simulation extend safety beyond the procedure to early detection and better training. If you care about preventing never events, reducing LAST, and building a resilient regional anesthesia workflow, this conversation lays out what works now and what’s coming next.

Enjoyed the insights? Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more clinicians advance patient safety.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/290-from-blind-needles-to-ultrasound-the-safety-revolution-in-regional-anesthesia/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

A single syringe swap should never decide a patient’s fate. We pull back the curtain on forty years of anesthesia medication safety to show what truly works—then tackle the hard part: getting proven safeguards into every OR, every time. From look-alike vial hazards to standardization that actually sticks, this conversation blends frontline realities with practical steps leaders can implement now.

We dig into the high-stakes TXA wrong-drug, wrong-route crisis and explain why eliminating vials and moving to ready-to-administer IV bags is a must. Along the way, we unpack new FDA label warnings, the APSF–ISMP joint recommendations, and the forcing functions that prevent catastrophes, including NRFit for neuraxial routes and barcode verification at the point of care. We also surface quieter threats—vial coring, variable concentrations, and chaotic storages—and show how color-coded, readable labels and organized carts reduce cognitive load when seconds matter.

Opioid safety gets equal focus. We connect preoperative risk assessment, multimodal analgesia, and smart postoperative monitoring to reduce opioid-related harm without compromising comfort. Technology has matured too: AI-driven clinical decision support can flag dosing and drug-choice risks in real time, but only if woven into workflows that clinicians trust. Throughout, we return to the implementation gap: success depends on leadership support, supply chain alignment, failure mode analysis, transparent reporting, and peer support that sustains a just culture.

If you care about safer anesthesia—standardized labels and concentrations, prefilled syringes, organized storage, barcode checks, and a culture that learns—this is your playbook. Listen, share with your team, and help push your institution from knowing to doing. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us which safeguard you’ll champion next.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/289-forty-years-of-anesthesia-medication-safety-what-works-and-whats-next/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

Seconds define outcomes in the OR, and medication safety lives in those seconds. We take you inside four decades of work by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation to show how our field shifted from relying on vigilance to building systems that make the right action the easy action. Along the way, guest contributor, Dr. Elizabeth Rebello, shares why standardization, technology, and culture are not buzzwords but lifelines when a single clinician must select, prepare, and administer drugs under pressure.

We break down the STPC framework born from the 2010 Stoelting Conference—standardization, technology, pharmacy/pre-filled/pre-mixed, and culture—and translate it into real steps: standardized concentrations for high-alert medications, removal of concentrated lethal agents from the OR, barcode-based identification before draw-up or administration, and smart infusion pumps with user-friendly drug libraries. You’ll hear how prefilled syringes, automated dispensing, and clinical pharmacist integration reduce prep errors and free up attention when it matters most.

The story moves forward with the 2018 focus on drug safety profiles and the stubborn challenge of shortages. We explore actionable ideas: building a standing shortage committee, communicating substitutions fast, simplifying carts and labels when suppliers change, and embracing multimodal analgesia. 

By the end, you’ll have a clear map of what to implement now—printed labels, prefilled syringes, smart-pump integration with your anesthesia record—and what to champion next across your institution. Subscribe and share with a colleague who leads in the OR. Then tell us: which safety step will you push across the finish line this year?

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/288-forty-years-of-perioperative-medication-safety-progress/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

Nausea shouldn’t be the most memorable part of surgery. We take a clear, evidence-based look at postoperative nausea and vomiting, from identifying who’s at risk to building smarter prophylaxis bundles and choosing the right rescue when prevention falls short. With guest insights from Dr. Connie Chung, we unpack the Fourth Consensus Guidelines, translate them into practical workflows, and explore how Amisulpride—an atypical D2 antagonist—changes the game with an FDA indication for rescue after failed prophylaxis.

We start by shrinking baseline risk: consider regional anesthesia when feasible, leverage TIVA with propofol, avoid nitrous and volatiles in longer cases, hydrate well, and spare opioids with multimodal analgesia. Then we scale prophylaxis to risk: dexamethasone at induction, 5-HT3 antagonists at the end, transdermal scopolamine for select patients, and low-dose Droperidol where appropriate. When prophylaxis fails, we explain why repeating ondansetron rarely helps and how switching classes boosts rescue success. Along the way, we map the safety terrain for D2 antagonists—QT prolongation, extrapyramidal risks, anticholinergic effects—so you can individualize care for elderly patients, those on antipsychotics, or anyone with potential drug interactions.

We also dig into what’s new: contemporary analyses of Droperidol at antiemetic doses, and growing evidence that Amisulpride pairs well with Ondansetron or Dexamethasone to improve outcomes. Pediatric pearls include TIVA, fluids, and a two-drug prophylaxis backbone for longer or higher-risk cases. The result is a practical, stepwise approach you can apply tomorrow—reduce risk, layer mechanisms, and rescue smartly—to cut PACU delays, avoid unplanned admissions, and deliver a recovery that feels as good as the surgical fix.

If this deep dive helps your practice, follow, share with your team, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Tell us your go-to PONV bundle and whether your site stocks Amisulpride.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/287-a-new-era-for-ponv-safety-guidelines-and-smarter-rescue/

© 2025, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

Safety for children under anesthesia shouldn’t depend on luck or location. We walk through 100+ years of progress in pediatric anesthesia and focus on the next wave of innovations that can make first attempts safer, dosing smarter, and systems more reliable—especially for neonates and infants who face the highest risk.

We start with the historical milestones that changed outcomes: pulse oximetry, capnography, standardized monitoring, and the rise of pediatric training and ICUs. Then we examine where progress must accelerate. Video laryngoscopy is improving first-pass success and reducing desaturation by giving teams a brighter, shared view of the airway. Ultrasound enhanced by AI promises needle guidance, better vascular access, and more consistent regional anesthesia. Gastric ultrasound could reshape fasting practices, reducing hypotension, nausea, and anxiety while safeguarding against aspiration. Alongside these tools, processed EEG helps tailor volatile agents and propofol to the developing brain, pushing practice from population averages to precision dosing.

We also look ahead to artificial intelligence as a connective layer across perioperative care. Think risk stratification in the EHR, early-warning analytics for intraoperative instability, and smarter OR management that reduces cancellations and costs. With expert insights from pediatric anesthesiologist, Dr. Elizabeth Malinzak, we name the real barriers—training, cost, bias, regulation—and stake a claim for proactive safety science over reactive fixes. The goal is equitable, high-quality anesthesia care for every child, in every setting.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review. Your support helps spread practical tools and ideas that keep our smallest patients safe.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/286-pediatric-anesthesia-safety-past-gains-next-frontiers/

© 2025, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

A routine dental visit should never turn into a medical emergency. We sit down with Dr. Rita Agarwal, pediatric anesthesiologist and patient safety advocate, to unpack why dental anesthesia operates on a separate track from hospital-based care—and how that gap can put patients at risk. From the heartbreaking story of six-year-old Caleb Sears to the hard truths about monitoring requirements, staffing models, and training, this conversation brings clarity to a topic most families and many clinicians assume is standardized.

We dive into what “sedation” really means in dentistry, why route-based labels can hide true depth of anesthesia, and how inconsistent state rules leave dangerous blind spots. Dr. Agarwal explains the pillars of safer dental sedation: careful patient selection, a separate and qualified anesthesia provider for deep sedation or general anesthesia, and the ability to rescue from the next deeper level, including effective bag-mask ventilation and the timely use of reversal agents. We also explore the role of capnography, reliable oxygen supply, and scenario-based drills that make rapid response second nature.

Safety grows when systems learn. That’s why we spotlight the urgent need for robust data: routine reporting of outcomes and near misses from dental offices using a simple, standardized tool. Pair that with harmonized terminology aligned to ASA levels, simulation training, and clear emergency protocols, and dentistry can match the reliability gains anesthesia has achieved in hospitals. For parents and patients, we offer direct, practical questions to ask before consenting to sedation—who monitors, what training they have, what equipment is on hand, and whether sedation is truly necessary.

If this conversation gave you new tools or changed your perspective, help us spread the word. Subscribe, share with a colleague or a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find evidence-based guidance on dental anesthesia safety.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/285-safer-smiles/

© 2025, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

The fastest way to improve post-cesarean recovery is to start before the first incision—by setting expectations, testing the block, and validating what patients feel. We sit down with Dr. Ruth Landau, Virginia Apgar Professor and Chief of Obstetric Anesthesia at Columbia University, to map a safer path from the OR to the nursery: neuraxial-first analgesia, scheduled non-opioids, and small, truly PRN opioid prescriptions at discharge. She explains how intrapartum cesareans carry higher risk for discomfort and why simple shifts—active epidural management, timely redosing, and clear, compassionate communication—reduce pain, opioid exposure, and the chance of a traumatic birth experience.

We break down practical steps that clinicians can apply today. Learn the difference between systemic and neuraxial opioids for breastfeeding safety, when to use ultrasound-guided TAP or QL blocks after general anesthesia, and how micro-boluses of IV dexmedetomidine can blunt visceral sensations, anxiety, and shivering. Dr. Landau also shares the latest from ASA statements and SOAP guidance, including dose-dependent monitoring strategies that make neuraxial opioids feasible even in resource-constrained settings.

The conversation moves beyond pharmacology to focus on outcomes that matter to families: fewer leftovers at home, less persistent opioid use, and birth memories grounded in trust instead of fear. We talk debriefs, trauma-informed care, and patient-reported experience measures, plus new research on sensation profiles and intrathecal adjuvants like dexmedetomidine and clonidine. If you’re building an opioid-sparing cesarean pathway—or refining the one you have—this is a clear, evidence-informed playbook.

If this resonates with you, follow the show, share it with your OB and nursing teams, and leave a review with one change you plan to make next shift. Your feedback helps more clinicians find these strategies and keeps more parents safe and comfortable.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/284-safer-c-section-pain-control-with-ruth-landau-md/

© 2025, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation