In today's TopMedTalk Andy Cumpstey interviews James Bowness, consultant anaesthetist, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at University College London (UCL), at Anaesthesia Research 2025 in Birmingham.

They discuss the definition and scope of AI, its applications in healthcare, and its potential to improve medical practices. The conversation emphasizes the importance of clinicians' involvement in the development and implementation of AI technologies. It also highlights ongoing efforts to identify and address key clinical problems through multidisciplinary collaboration, aiming to advance AI's role in anaesthesia, preoperative medicine, and acute pain management. The conversation underscores the need for a strategic, coordinated approach to integrate AI into healthcare effectively.

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Join us at Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London. Be part of a global conversation as clinicians from around the world gather between 7-9th July at the British Library in London. Three days of evidence-based perioperative medicine, global insights, and expert debate—featuring speakers including Michael Marmot and Ken Rockwood.

Register here -

https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025, Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie speak with Ruthi Landau, Virginia Apgar, Professor of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center and recently appointed editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia.

The conversation dives deep into the importance of writing, reviewing, and publishing high-quality research. Dr. Landau highlights the significance of addressing relevant research questions, improving patient outcomes, and the evolving landscape of scientific publishing. The episode also explains strategies for reviewers and authors aiming to contribute impactful studies and the value of editorials in contextualizing research. The discussion concludes with the importance of social media and digital tools in disseminating and engaging with published content.

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Super Early Bird registration is now open for The Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London, but it ends on 31 January!

We are right now offering the best available rates to attend the Congress. We encourage you to register early and take advantage of this opportunity while you still can.

Register here -

https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

Andy Cumpstey takes the chair to speak with Professor Lee Fleischer, Emeritus Professor of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania and the former Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Lee shares his remarkable journey, from his early interest in science and medicine to his pivotal roles in clinical research, healthcare policy, and national advisory boards. He discusses his efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of balancing professional commitments with family life, and his ongoing passion for advancing evidence-based perioperative practice. The conversation also explores his work with the CMS, contributions to healthcare policy, and his future aspirations.

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Super Early Bird registration is now open for The Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London, but it ends on 31 January!

We are right now offering the best available rates to attend the Congress. We encourage you to register early and take advantage of this opportunity while you still can.

Register here -

https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

Kate Leslie and Andy Cumpstey report from the British Journal of Anaesthesia meeting held in Dublin, Ireland. They are joined by guest Tom Abbott, a clinical senior lecturer in anaesthesia and social media editor for the BJA.

We discuss the growing importance of social media in scientific communication, the impact of alternative metrics such as altmetrics, and the operational challenges of maintaining a presence across various social media platforms. The conversation also touches on platform trials in clinical research, where Abbott highlights his current research initiatives, including trials on ibuprofen for postoperative pain and high-flow nasal oxygen.

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Super Early Bird registration is now open for The Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress 2026 in London, but it ends on 31 January!

We are right now offering the best available rates to attend the Congress. We encourage you to register early and take advantage of this opportunity while you still can.

Register here -

https://ebpom.org/product/ebpom-world-congress-2026/

Desiree Chapell hosts an insightful discussion featuring colleagues from NorthStar Anesthesia; Dr. Josh Lumley, Chief Quality Officer at NorthStar Anesthesia, Adam Spiegel, Chief Executive Officer of NorthStar Anesthesia and Romeo Kaddoum, Chief Medical Officer, NorthStar Anesthesia

We delve into the impacts of workforce issues, hospital financials, the value of outsourced anesthesia services, and the importance of leadership and clinical engagement at NorthStar Anesthesia. The discussion also covers their commitment to providing clinicians with growth opportunities and ensuring a high level of patient care.

Desiree Chappell and Mike Grocott are joined by Klaus Gorlinger, Medical Director at TEM Innovations GmbH in Munich, Germany at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025.

This conversation focuses on patient blood management (PBM) and viscoelastic testing (VET) delving into the significance of VET in managing bleeding during surgeries, the evolution of testing techniques, and their impact on patient outcomes. Klaus explains the importance of whole blood testing over standard coagulation tests and discusses different protocols and global practices around this technology. The conversation also highlights the economic benefits of reducing unnecessary blood transfusions and improving patient care through advanced hemostasis testing.

Further reading:

"Last year at the ASA, we presented a poster, about the need to analyze what does changing from just to transfuse by a goal direct approach on mortality in cardiac surgery. And it reduces mortality by 47%"

Reference: Goerlinger K, Petricevic M, Lier H, Karkouti K. Effect of Viscoelastic Testing on Mortality in Cardiovascular Surgery, Lung Transplant, and ECMO: A Meta-Analysis. (Abstract 2050). The Anesthesiology Annual Meeting; Oct 19, 2024, Philadelphia, USA. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/20301/presentation/31677.

Recorded in Dublin, Ireland, and hosted by The British Journal of Anaesthesia at their annual meeting, this week's TopMedTalk focuses on translational research.

Presented by Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie with their guest Professor Gareth Ackland Clinical Professor of Perioperative Medicine at the William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

The conversation delves into the autonomic nervous system's role in exercise capacity and its implications for postoperative outcomes. Why specifically does exercise help?

Professor Ackland explains groundbreaking work involving neural control, genetic modifications, and translational models, shedding light on how parasympathetic function affects fitness and recovery from surgery. The conversation underscores the importance of personalized medicine and mechanistic research in understanding human physiology and improving clinical practices. It also explains why anaesthesia journals publish high quality translational studies as well as clinical research.

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.