ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 in San Antonio, TopMedTalk's Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie talks with Susan Goobie, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Associate in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital in Boston, USA.

They discuss the specialty of non-cardiac pediatric surgery and her focus on patient blood management. Dr Goobie highlights the importance of 'blood health,' describing its three pillars: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. She emphasizes preoperative anemia management, particularly in children, and shares strategies like iron supplementation and erythropoietin use. The discussion also covers key research papers on blood management and the practical applications of these strategies.

BJA 2025; 135:375-81. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2025.04.050

BJA Open 2025; 13:100372. doi: 10.016/j.bjao.2024.100372

Perioperative Profiles is a new series on TopMedTalk. We aim to continue to release a profile each month, spotlighting the professional — and personal — journeys of leading perioperative practitioners and researchers. Each month we talk to a prominent figure in perioperative medicine, exploring how they came into the field, what shaped their careers, key challenges and successes, and how their work has contributed to evidence-based perioperative practice.

Steven Shafer is a world renowned Emeritus Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center.

In this episode of Top Med Talk, recorded live at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025, Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie discuss Dr. Shafer's incredible career in anesthesia. Hear about the journey from software engineering to being a pivotal figure in anesthetic pharmacology and becoming involved in a trial involving one of the world's most iconic pop stars.

Shafer speaks about his groundbreaking work in drug research, the mentorship of Donald Stanski, and his pride in the achievements of his fellows. The episode also delves into his tenure as the editor-in-chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia, uncovering major fraudulent research cases, and culminates with his expert testimony in the highly publicized Michael Jackson case. A blend of professional insights and personal stories, highlighting the challenges and triumphs in the field of anesthesia.

If you enjoyed this piece why not explore TopMedTalk's archive? We have over 2000+ unique podcasts covering the last seven years of perioperative medicine news and research.

Start with one of these from the Perioperative Profiles series:

Paul Myles:

TopMedTalk: Perioperative Profiles, Paul Myles

Ramani Moonesinghe:

TopMedTalk: Perioperative Profiles, Ramani Moonesinghe

Kate Leslie:

TopMedTalk: Perioperative Profiles - Kate Leslie

Monty Mythen:

TopMedTalk: Perioperative Profile Monty Mythen

Desiree Chappell is joined by Mike Grocott, Sol Aronson, and their guest Guy Ludbrook, Professor of Anaesthesia at the University of Adelaide, at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

The discussion covers exciting developments in perioperative medicine, focusing on the Perioperative Quality Initiative (POQI) and the newly coined term 'Enhanced Postoperative Care Units' (EPOCH), a new initiative aiming to bridge the gap between ward care and intensive care by providing specialized care for medium-risk postoperative patients.

The guests share their experiences and insights, including ongoing projects, the impact of advanced monitoring technology, and the potential future of perioperative care globally. They also preview upcoming events, like the World Congress of Anesthesiology and the first World Congress of Enhanced Postoperative Care.

From the Evidence-based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) Conference in Dingle, Ireland, Desiree Chappell and Sol Aronson are joined by Alex Mittnacht, President and Founding Director, International Academy of Cardiac Anaesthesiologists (IACA), and Vice Chair of Anesthesiology and Chief of Pediatric and Adult Cardiac Anesthesia at Westchester Medical Center, New York, USA.

Dr Mittnacht shares his fascinating professional journey and delves into the intricacies of paediatric cardiac anaesthesia, including its evolving training pathways, workforce challenges, and the increasing demands for specialized care. Discover how multidisciplinary care and the proper training of anaesthesiologists are crucial for effective patient management, particularly for those with congenital heart disease. What is future of this essential medical specialty?

Desiree Chappell and Sol Aronson discuss innovations in anesthesia at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 with Brandon Henak, Global Marketing Director, Monitoring Solutions at GE Healthcare and John W Beard, Chief Medical Officer at GE Healthcare - Patient Care Solutions.

They unveil GE's new premium anesthesia platform designed for both current and future needs, emphasizing enhanced workflow, patient safety, and adaptable technology. The conversation highlights the platform's advanced features, including a dual compute architecture, innovative vaporization system, and digital solutions for improved perioperative care.

Find out more here: https://www.gehealthcare.co.uk/products/perioperative-care/carestation-850

Listen to more of John W Beard here: https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/cost-savings-through-continuous-vital-sign-monitoring-anes23

And find more of Brandon Henak here: https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/tom-westrick-and-brandon-henak-from-ge-healthcare-topmedtalk

A bittersweet moment for us, as the wonderful Desiree Chappell moves on to a fantastic new role in industry, after many years in the role of managing editor and anchor for TopMedTalk.

This piece was recorded at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 the annual general meeting of The American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) in Chicago.

Presented by Andy Cumpstey, Mike Grocott and Kate Leslie with their guest Desiree Chappell.

Please make sure you are subscribed to TopMedTalk and find us on social media so we can connect online.

Join Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie in this broadcast from the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 meeting. They welcome guests Stacie G. Deiner, an anesthesiologist, professor and vice-chair for research at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Mark D. Neuman, anesthesiologist and Horatio C. Wood Professor of Anesthesiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

We discuss the new ASA guidelines for older adults. The episode delves into the development, significant recommendations, and implementation of these guidelines, emphasizing the importance of preoperative evaluation and the choice of anesthesia technique. Mark and Stacie also highlight ongoing research and the future of perioperative care for older adults. This conversation underscores the role of shared decision-making and proactive health measures in improving surgical outcomes.

The ASA guideline can be found here:

https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-practice-parameters/practice-advisory-perioperative-care-of-older-adults-scheduled-for-inpatient-surgery

The REGAIN study can be found here: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2113514

Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie welcome Professor Monty Mythen to his Perioperative Profile. Recorded at the 2025 Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) meeting in Dingle, Ireland.

Monty discusses his fascinating career, from his childhood in London to becoming Professor of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at University College London. He notes his involvement in founding EBPOM and his role at BD Advanced Patient Monitoring. The conversation covers Monty's groundbreaking research on gut perfusion and multiple organ failure, his high-altitude research expeditions to Mount Everest, and his transition to a role in the healthcare industry. He shares insights on the intricate process of medical device approval. The episode is a deep dive into the experiences and achievements of a leading medical mind.

Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

They interview Peter Nagele, professor of anesthesiology at the University of Chicago, about his groundbreaking trial on the use of nitrous oxide as a treatment for severe depression. The trial aimed to assess the efficacy of nitrous oxide compared to a placebo and explored different doses (25% vs. 50%). They discusses the study's promising results, the neurobiology of depression, and the potential for a phase three international multicenter trial.

This episode also highlights the need for novel treatments for treatment-resistant depression and the importance of collaborative research in advancing medical knowledge.

ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 Desiree Chappell and Mike Grocott discuss the latest advancements and key topics in the field of anesthesiology with special guests Sheila Barnett, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Professor of Anesthesiology at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Patrick Guffey, Professor of Clinical Practice, Anesthesiology-Pediatric Anesthesiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

The conversation centers around the Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI) and its various initiatives, including the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry (NACO) and the importance of integrating electronic health records for improved data collection and quality of care. The guests highlight the challenges and opportunities of using clinical data to drive quality improvements and the future potential of collaborating with electronic health record systems like Epic. The episode underscores the importance of quality data in anesthesia and highlights efforts to enhance patient outcomes and healthcare value.