Sure you have used the vent, but are you always using PEEP? Should we always be using PEEP? This episode features Erin Czerwonka who is not only and RVT but also and RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist!!!

While her primary focus has always been referral anesthesia, Erin has also gained valuable experience working in the Ophthalmology, Cardiology, and ICU departments. In 2015, she took a significant detour from veterinary medicine to pursue an Advanced Diploma in Respiratory Therapy. In January 2018, she successfully challenged the Canadian board examination to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Although she no longer maintains her RRT status, the knowledge and skills she acquired during that time continue to enrich her anesthesia practice every day.

A lifelong nerd at heart, Erin has always had a passion for learning. Her current professional interests include locoregional anesthesia, difficult airway management, mechanical ventilation, and pain management. She is currently pursuing certification as a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) through the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM).

Outside of work, Erin enjoys kayaking and watching tennis with her husband, Mason. She also delights in showering affection—sometimes aggressively—on her dog, Auzi, and her two cats, Bruce Wayne and Hazel.

Resources:

Journal Article: Setting the optimal positive end expiratory pressure: a narrative review (veterinary)

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1083290/full

Journal Article: Perioperative high inspired oxygen fraction induces atelectasis in patients undergoing abdominal surgery: A randomized controlled trial (human)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0952818021001240

Video: EMTprep - PEEP (human)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu4sChU9eBo

Video: Respiratory Coach - How does PEEP affect oxygenation? (human)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP9DDRdGmPw

Video: Respiratory Coach - What is PEEP? (human)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6_lzL8qQDs