Critical Matters

Originally released in 2023, this episode remains one of our most insightful conversations on learning, leadership, and improvement in healthcare. To err is human, but how we respond to failure determines whether we grow from it. In this episode of Critical Matters, Dr. Sergio Zanotti sits down with Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School and one of the world's foremost experts on team performance, psychological safety, and organizational learning. Together, they explore the science of "failing well" and why our relationship with failure is often flawed. Their conversation examines different types of failure, the role of psychological safety in high-performing teams, and how individuals, teams, and organizations can learn from mistakes without assigning blame. Drawing from decades of research, Edmondson offers practical insights for creating environments where learning, innovation, and continuous improvement can thrive. Whether you're hearing this…

Acute respiratory failure is one of the most common reasons adults require intensive care, and choosing the right respiratory support strategy can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. In this episode of Critical Matters, Dr. Sergio Zanotti explores the evidence behind noninvasive respiratory support for adults with acute respiratory failure. The discussion examines current clinical guidelines, the role of high-flow nasal cannula and noninvasive ventilation, and key considerations for selecting the most appropriate support strategy in critical care settings. He is joined by Neha Goel, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. A physician-scientist specializing in pulmonary and critical care medicine, Dr. Goel's research focuses on respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, ARDS, sepsis, and the physiology of breathing during critical illness. She is also the lead author of the recently published American…

Sepsis remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, making early recognition and coordinated care essential to improving patient outcomes. In honor of Sepsis Awareness Month, observed every September, we are revisiting an episode of Critical Matters featuring a conversation about hospital sepsis programs and the CDC Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements. Originally debuting in 2023, Dr. Sergio Zanotti's discussion with guest Hallie Prescott, MD, MSc, Associate Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Michigan, hits on evidence-based approaches to building effective sepsis initiatives and advancing quality care across healthcare organizations. Additional resources: CDC Hospital Program Sepsis Program Core Elements [https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/pdfs/sepsis-core-elements-H.pdf] CDC Additional Sepsis Clinical Resources [https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/core-elements/resources.html] SCCM Surviving Sepsis Guidelines 2021…

For patients receiving mechanical ventilation, losing the ability to speak can be one of the most frightening and frustrating aspects of critical illness. In this episode of Critical Matters, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the experience of being "voiceless" in the ICU and examines evidence-based strategies to improve communication between patients, families, and care teams. He is joined by Mary Beth Happ, PhD, RN, Nursing Distinguished Professor of Critical Care Research at The Ohio State University College of Nursing and a nationally recognized researcher whose work has transformed our understanding of communication during mechanical ventilation. Additional resources: Giving Voice: Nurse-Patient Communication in the Intensive Care Unit. Happ MB. American Journal of Critical Care 2021. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34195776/] Effect of a multi-level intervention on nurse-patient communication in the intensive care unit: results of the SPEACS trial. Happ MB, et al. Heart Lung 2014.…

Recovering after a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a long and difficult process, and for some survivors, healing the body may only be a fraction of the journey. In recent years, attention has increasingly turned to the cognitive impact post-intensive care syndrome, or PICS, has on ICU patients. In this episode of Critical Matters, Dr. Sergio Zanotti explores how to communicate with patients and families about post-intensive care syndrome. He is joined by Dr. Carla M. Sevin, an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). Dr. Sevin also serves as Director of the Pulmonary Patient Care Center and Director of the ICU Recovery Center. Previous episodes of Critical Matters related to this topic: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICAS) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/post-intensive-care-syndrome-pics/id1335759655?i=1000442612525] The Forgotten Patient…

When it comes to critical illness, nutrition isn't just supportive care—it can be a key part of the treatment plan. In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti sits down with Dr. Jayshil Patel to discuss nutrition therapy for critically ill adults and the growing evidence behind enteral nutrition's role in improving outcomes. Dr. Patel is a pulmonary and critical care physician in the Division of Pulmonary at the Medical College of Wisconsin whose research focuses on how enteral nutrition influences outcomes in critical care settings. Additional resources: * Nutrition Therapy in Critically Ill Adults. J. Patel, S McCLave. NEJM 2026. [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2506111] * Trial of the Route of Early Nutritional Support in Critically Ill Adults. CALORIES Trial. NEJM 2015. [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1409860] * Enteral versus parenteral early nutrition in ventilated adults with shock: a randomised, controlled, multicentre, open-label, parallel-group study (NUTRIREA-2). LANCET 2018.…

In a recent episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discussed the 2026 iteration of the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines. In this episode, the discussion continues, focusing on important aspects beyond clinical guidelines. He is joined by Dr. Andre Kalil, a physician specializing in critical care and infectious diseases. Dr. Kalil is a Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Director of Transplant Infectious Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Dr. Kalil is a prolific author and has participated in several IDSA/SCCM Clinical Guidelines and has written extensively on critical care and infectious disease topics. Additional resources: Surviving sepsis campaign 2026 guidelines | Critical Matters [https://www.soundphysicians.com/podcast/critical-matters/surviving-sepsis-campaign-2026-guidelines/] Sepsis. M Singer, et al. The Lancet 2026. [https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)02422-5/abstract] Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of…

This episode was originally posted Feb. 24, 2022. The last 24 months have pushed ICU teams around the world to their limits. As we move forward, we need to heal and rebuild our critical care teams. Healthcare more than ever will require ICU teams to perform at the highest levels and to continuously innovate to deliver high-value care to the sickest of the sick. In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the elements of The Fearless ICU. He is joined by Amy Edmondson (@AmyCEdmondson), the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School. For the last two decades, she has studied the elements of high-performing teams in complex environments. Additional Resources: Faculty page for Amy Edmondson. A great jumping point to her vast body of work. [https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/AmyEdmondson] How to turn a group of strangers into a team. TED Talk by Amy Edmondson [https://bit.ly/3vaKwzA/] The Fearless Organization. By Amy Edmondson. [https://amzn.to/3v7JzrJ] What Google Learned in its…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the care of older adults in the ICU. He is joined by Dr. Lauren Ferrante, a pulmonary critical care physician in the medical intensive care unit at Yale New Haven Hospital. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine and serves as Director, Operations Core, at the Yale Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center. Dr. Ferrante is the lead author of the recently published "Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on Caring for Older Adults in the ICU." Additional resources: Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on Care for Older Adults in the ICU. Crit Care Medicine 2026 [https://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2026&issue=05000&article=00003&type=Fulltext] Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on Care for Older Adults in the ICU. Implementation Toolkit [https://sccm.org/SCCM/media/SCCM/PDFs/Older-Adults-Guidelines-Toolkit.pdf?_gl=1*rv4da8*_gcl_au*MzczOTk1NDAxLjE3NzgyNjIxMjM] American…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses arterial catheters in shock through the lens of the recently published EVERDAC trial. He is joined by Dr. Gregoire Muller, a critical care physician in the Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Resuscitation at the University Hospital Center of Orléans, Orléans, France. Dr. Muller is an accomplished clinician and researcher. He is the principal investigator/lead author of the EVERDAC clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Additional resources: Deferring Arterial Catheterization in Critically Ill Patients with Shock. EVERDAC Trial. New Engl J Med 2025. [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2502136] Arterial lines in the ICU: A call for rigorous controlled trials. CHEST 2014. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25367469/] Hemodynamic monitoring in shock and implications for management. International Consensus Conference, Paris, France 2006. Intensive Care Med 2007. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17285286/] Noninvasive BP…

In this, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the management of invasive candidiasis in critically ill patients. Invasive candidiasis is frequent in critically ill patients and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. He is joined by Dr. Max Adelman, a practicing critical care and infectious disease physician at Houston Methodist Hospital. Dr. Adelman is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Adelman's clinical interests include bacteremia, hospital-acquired infections, immunocompromised hosts, multidrug-resistant organisms, and septic shock. Additional Resources: Invasive candidiasis in critically ill patients: Fundamental concepts and future directions. Perez MA, Hoffman WJ, Perez JC, and Adelman MH. CHEST 2026. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12833977/] Empirical Micafungin Treatment and Survival Without Invasive Fungal Infection in Adults With ICU-Acquired Sepsis, Candida Colonization, and Multiple Organ Failure: The EMPIRICUS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA…

In this episode, Dr. Zanotti discusses the Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026. He is joined by Dr. Hallie Prescot and Dr. Bram Rochwerg. Dr. Hallie Prescott is an Associate Professor in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine at the University of Michigan and a staff physician at the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. She serves as co-chair of the international Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines. Dr. Bram Rochwerg is an associate professor and critical care physician at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is co-vice-chair of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Adult Guidelines. Additional Resources: Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026. Crit Care Medicine 2026 [https://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2026&issue=04000&article=00005&type=Fulltext] Executive Summary: Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses emergency management and resuscitation of patients with left-sided Impella support. We will base our discussion on a recently published United Kingdom multisociety consensus statement. Our guests for this episode are two of the authors of this consensus statement. Dr. Zanotti is joined by Dr. Waqas Akhtar, a consultant at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom. Dr. Akhtar completed full postgraduate certification in Cardiology, Intensive Care & General Internal Medicine with a particular interest in cardiogenic shock, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. He is also joined by Dr. Vasileios Panoulas, a consultant cardiologist at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust and honorary senior clinical lecturer at Imperial College London. He has clinical expertise that encompasses both general and interventional cardiology. Additional resources: UK multisociety consensus statement on the emergency management and resuscitation of…

In this episode Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the recently released Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Adults. This guideline is a report of the American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. He is joined by Dr. Mark Creager, the lead author and chair of the writing committee for these guidelines. Dr. Creager is Professor of Medicine and Professor of Surgery at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. A past president of the American Heart Association, he is an internationally recognized leader in vascular and cardiovascular medicine with more than 400 scientific publications. Additional resources: 2026 AHA/ACC/ACEP/CHEST/SCAI/SHM/SIR/SVM/SVN Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation 2026:…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses a structured approach to ECMO emergencies, focusing on recognizing cardiac arrest, organizing the team response, and early ECMO troubleshooting to support key life-saving interventions. He is joined by Dr. Waqas Akhtar, a consultant at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trustin the United Kingdom. Dr. Akhtar completed full postgraduate certification in Cardiology, Intensive Care & General Internal Medicine, with a particular interest in cardiogenic shock, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support Additional resources: British societies guideline on the management of emergencies in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Waqas Akhtar, et al. Intensive Care Med 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41051555/ UK multisociety consensus statement on the emergency and resuscitation of patients with left-sided Impella support. Waqas Akhtar, et al. BMJ Journals 2026: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2025/12/17/heartjnl-2025-326896 Books…

In this episode of Critical Matters, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the management of acute type B aortic dissection. He is joined by Dr. Firas Mussa, a vascular surgeon and professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. Dr. Mussa also holds a joint appointment with Imperial College in London. Additional resources: Management of Acute Type B Aortic Dissection. FF Mussa and P Kougias. N Engl J of Med 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40902163/ 2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. EM Isselbacher, et al. Circulation 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36322642/ Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Reporting Standards for Type B Aortic Dissections. JV Lombardi, et al. J Vasc Surg 2020: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32001058/ Endovascular repair of type B aortic dissection: long-term results of the…

In this episode, Dr. Zanotti discusses the role of Procalcitonin in the ICU. He is joined by Dr. Simran Gupta, an infectious disease specialist at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Gupta has additional training in Clinical Research, Transplant, and Infectious Disease. She recently published an article on reassessing the role of Procalcitonin in critically ill patients with sepsis. Additional resources: Reassessing Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Therapy in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis: Lessons from the ADAPT-Sepsis Trial. S. Gupta, et al. Clinical Infectious Disease 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40579227/ Biomarker-Guided Antibiotic Duration for Hospitalized Patients With Suspected Sepsis: The ADAPT-Sepsis Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39652885/ Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy may shorten the length of treatment and may improve survival- a systematic review and meta-analysis. M Papp, et al. Crit Care 2023:…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the assessment of peripheral perfusion as a tool to guide treatment in septic shock. Specifically, he dives into Capillary Refill Time. He is joined by Dr. Eduardo Kattan, a critical care and anesthesia physician. Dr. Kattan is an Assistant Professor at the Pontificia Catholic University of Chile, where he also serves as Adult Critical Care Program Director and Director of Research and Academics in the Department of Critical Care Medicine. A prolific investigator, he focuses his research on septic shock and medical education. Dr. Rattan is the Co-Principal Investigator of the recently published ANDROMEDA-SHOCK 2 clinical trial. Additional resources: Personalized Hemodynamic Resuscitation Targeting Capillary Refill Time in Early Septic Shock. The ANDORMEDA-SHOCK-2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2025: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2840823 Effect of Resuscitation Strategy Targeting Peripheral Perfusion Status vs Serum Lactate Levels on. 28-Day…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the administration of vasopressor agents through peripheral intravenous lines (or what we refer to as "peripheral vasopressors"). He is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Munroe, a practicing pulmonary/critical care physician and an Assistant Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her research interests include evidence-based resuscitation practices in early sepsis and septic shock, vasopressor administration practices, peripheral vasopressor use, and clinical trials, particularly novel, pragmatic clinical trial designs. Additional resources: Peripheral Vasopressor Use in Early Sepsis-Induced Hypotension. ES Munroe, et al. JAMA Network 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40864467/ Early Restrictive or Liberal Fluid Management for Sepsis-Induced Hypotension. Shapiro NI, et al. CLOVERS Trial. New Engl J of Med 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36688507/ Overview of Peripheral Vasopressor Use in an Academic Health…

Fluid overload is a common problem in critically ill patients. In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discuss recognizing and managing fluid overload in the ICU with guest Dr. Michael J. Connor, Jr., a practicing intensivist and nephrologist. Dr. Connor is a Professor and Senior Physician of Critical Care Medicine & Nephrology at the Divisions of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine and Renal Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Additionally, he serves as the director of critical care nephrology at the Emory Critical Care Center at Grady Memorial Hospital. Additional resources European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline on fluid therapy in adult critically ill patients: Part 3- fluid removal at de-escalation phase. Intensive Care Med 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40828463/ Optimizing Fluid Therapy in the Critically Ill. International Fluid Academy website – 2025:…

Originally posted in April of 2023, we are sharing this episode of Critical Matters again as Dr. Sergio Zanotti's discussion about the long journey to healing and recovery for those who've survived critical illness in the ICU remains pertinent and important. This conversation features Dr. Margaret Herridge, Professor of Medicine, Senior Scientist in Critical Care and Respiratory Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Herridge is also Director of Critical Care Research. Director of the RECOVER Program, and Clinical Director of the Grace RECOVER Program for Chronic Critical Illness, in the University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. Additional Resources: Outcomes after Critical Illness. M. Herridge and E. Azoulay: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36884324/ Neuropsychological sequelae and impaired health status in survivors of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Hopkins RO, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10390379/ One-year outcomes in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome.…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses ECPR–Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. ECPR is still be considered a niche therapy, but its relevance and availability are increasing. He is joined by Dr. Adam Green, a practicing intensivist at Cooper University Health Care and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU). Dr. Green is the director of research for the division of Critical Care and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications. He has been part of the ECMO team at Cooper since its inception. Additional resources: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for refractory cardiac arrest. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2025: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213260025001225 Effect of Intra-arrest Transport, Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and Immediate Invasive Assessment and Treatment on Functional Neurologic Outcome in Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. JAMA 2022:…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses clinical guidelines for the transfusion of platelets and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in critically ill patients. He is joined by Dr. Angel Coz Yataco, a practicing pulmonary critical care physician. Dr Coz Yataco is on the faculty of the Cleaveland Clinic Main Campus. He is also the lead author of the recently published American College of Chest Physicians Clinical Practice Guidelines on "Transfusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma and Platelets in Critically Ill Adults." Additional resources: American College of Chest Physicians Clinical Practice Guidelines on Transfusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma and Platelets in Critically Ill Adults. Coz Yataco a, et al. CHEST 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40074060/ Platelet Transfusion 2025 AAB and ICTMG International Clinical Practice Guidelines. JAMA 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40440268/ Platelet Transfusion before CVC Placement in Patients with Thrombocytopenia. Van Baarle LF, et al. New Eng J of Med 2023:…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the different aspects of managing pneumonia in critically ill patients. He covers the initial management of severe pneumonia, management of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and highlights the clinical approach to non-resolving pneumonia in the intensive care unit (ICU). He is joined by Dr. Andre Kalil, a physician specializing in critical care and infectious diseases. Dr. Kalil is a Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Director of Transplant Infectious Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Additional resources: How to approach a patient hospitalized for pneumonia who is not responding to treatment? Pedro Povoa, et al. Intensive Care Med 2025: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00134-025-07903-3 Management of Adults With Hospital-acquired and Ventilator-associated Pneumonia: 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Thoracic Society. Andre Kalil, et al. Clin…

In this episode of, Dr. Sergio Zanotti explores the vital role of enteral nutrition in the ICU—a foundational element in the prevention and treatment of disease-related malnutrition among critically ill patients. He is joined by Dr. Leah Gramlich, a distinguished gastroenterologist and physician nutrition specialist from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Alberta, Canada. Dr. Gramlich is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta and the founding president of the Canadian Nutrition Society. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and chaired the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force, bringing deep expertise to this essential topic. Additional resources: Enteral Nutrition in Hospitalized Adults. Lead Gramlich, Peggi Guenter. New Engl J Med 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40239069/ Individualized nutritional support in medical inpatients at nutritional risk: a randomized clinical trial. The EFFORT Clinical Trial. Lancet 2019:…

In this episode, Dr. Zanotti discusses the science of hope. He's joined by Dr. Stephen Trzeciak, a physician-scientist, the Edward D. Viner Endowed Chief of Medicine at Cooper University Health Care, and Professor and Chair of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Trzeciak is a practicing intensivist and a clinical researcher with more than 100 publications in the scientific literature. In addition, he is co-author of two excellent books: Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself (2022) and Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference (2019). Additional resources: Recovery Expectations and Long-term Prognosis of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Barefoot JC, et al. JAMA Internal Medicine 2011: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21357800/ Optimism and Rehospitalization After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. Scheler MF, et al. JAMA Int Med 1999:…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti focuses on the nuances of mechanical ventilation in patients with severe asthma. Previously, he explored the medical management of acute asthma exacerbations. Today, he takes a deeper dive into ventilatory strategies tailored to this high-risk population. He's joined by Dr. Emily Damuth, a dual-trained emergency medicine and critical care physician. Dr. Damuth is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Emergency Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and practices clinically in both the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. She is also an Assistant Program Director for the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship and is actively involved in the ECMO program. A passionate educator, she teaches mechanical ventilation through lectures and simulation and has received multiple teaching awards for her contributions to medical education. Additional resources: Links: Management of Life-Threatening Asthma. O.…

In this episode, Dr. Zanotti discussed the Society of Critical Care Medicine "Focused Update on the Clinical Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pain, Anxiety. Agitation/Sedation. Delirium, Immobility, and Sleep Disruption in Adult Patients in the ICU." This is also known as the PADIS Guidelines. He is joined by Joanna L. Stollings, PharmD, a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and a Board-Certified Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Specialist. Joanna is the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She also served as vice chair for the PADIS Guideline Focused Update and co-authored the guidelines. Additional resources: Society of Critical Care Medicine Focused Update on the Clinical Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pain, Anxiety. Agitation/Sedation. Delirium, Immobility, and Sleep Disruption in Adult Patients in the ICU. PADIS 2025 Update: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39982143/ Clinical Practice Guidelines…

In this episode, Dr. Sergion Zanotti discusses TEE in cardiac arrest and shock. Critical care clinicians commonly utilize transthoracic echocardiography in the ICU as part of their point-of-care-ultrasonography (POCUS) toolkit. However, there is a growing push to train intensivists in using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for cardiac arrest and peri-arrest situations in the ICU. Our guest is Dr. Sara Nikravan, a cardiothoracic anesthesia critical care physician with training in advanced perioperative echocardiography. Dr. Nikravan is an Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Washington Medical School and practices at the UW Medical Center. She is recognized as an expert and master educator in Critical Care, Perioperative echocardiography, and Point of Care Ultrasound. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers and is the guidelines co-chair of the Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on Adult Critical Care Ultrasonography:…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti explores one of medicine's fastest-evolving frontiers: artificial intelligence (AI). From predictive analytics to decision-support tools, AI is beginning to influence how we deliver critical care — but what does that actually mean for frontline clinicians? Dr. Zanotti is joined by Dr. Sharad Patel, a critical care physician with additional board certification in nephrology and Echocardiography. He is a Critical Care Intensivist at Cooper University Health Care, the assistant program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Dr. Patel is deeply interested in applying artificial intelligence and technology at the bedside. Additional resources: Landing page for New England Journal of Medicine – AI in Medicine section. A multitude of articles and resources on the topic: https://www.nejm.org/ai-in-medicine Attention Is All You Need. A Vaswani et al. NIPS 2017:…

In a previous episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti explored the importance of challenging dogma, particularly when the supporting evidence is weak or absent. Today, he continues that discussion by examining critical care practices that persist despite a lack of strong scientific validation. He's joined by Dr. Mervyn Singer, an internationally recognized leader in critical care medicine. Dr. Singer is a professor of intensive care medicine at University College London and a distinguished clinician, researcher, and educator. Through his research, publications, and dynamic presentations, he has inspired Dr. Zanotti — and countless intensivists worldwide — to think critically, challenge conventions, and push the boundaries of our field. Additional resources: Challenging management dogma where evidence is non-existent, weak, or outdated: part II. DA Hofmaennner and M. Singer. Intensive Care Med2024: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go Challenging management dogma where evidence is non-existent, weak, or outdated. DA…

Due to advancements in medical and surgical care, the survival of patients with congenital conditions into adulthood has dramatically increased. However, as these individuals transition to adulthood, their unique physiology, chronic complications, and evolving care needs create significant challenges for their management when they are admitted to adult intensive care units (ICUs). This episode will discuss adult congenital disease in the ICU. Dr. Zanotti is joined by Dr. Cameron Dezfulian, a pediatric and adult critical care physician. He is the director of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program Development for the Section of Critical Care at Texas Children's Hospital and a faculty member at Cardiothoracic Critical Care at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. He is also a Senior Faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Additional resources: ACC/AHA 2008 Guidelines for the Management of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease. Circulation 2008:…

February 7-14 marks the observance of Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week. In this podcast episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti provides a unique perspective on adult congenital heart disease, drawing from his journey as a lifelong patient. He offers reflections shaped by his own experiences with complex adult congenital heart disease, including insights gained from a recent medical procedure that granted him a firsthand view of patient care in the ICU. Additional resources: ACC/AHA 2008 Guidelines for the Management of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease. Circulation 2008: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.190690 The Bell Curve. By Atul Gawande. The New Yorker 2004: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/12/06/the-bell-curve Website for the Adult Congenital Heart Association: https://www.achaheart.org/ Books and music mentioned in this episode: Montaigne. By Stefan Zweig: https://bit.ly/4gEOVP2 The Heart. A Novel. By Maylis De Kerangal: https://bit.ly/41ehqin The Essays: A…

Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication of critical illness, and a subgroup of these patients will require renal replacement therapy. In this episode. Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses optimizing renal replacement therapy in the ICU. He is joined by Dr. Michael J. Connor, Jr., a practicing intensivist and nephrologist. He is a professor and senior physician of critical care medicine and nephrology at the Divisions of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine and Renal Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. In addition, he is the director of critical care nephrology at the Emory Critical Care Center at Grady Memorial Hospital. Additional resources: Delivering optimal renal replacement therapy to critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Wald R, et al. Intensive Care Med 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36066597/ Initiation Strategies for Renal-Replacement Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit. AKIKI Study Group. N Engl J Med 2016: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27181456/…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses rational fluid therapy. He is joined by Dr. Adrian Wong, a practicing intensive care medicine and anesthesia physician. Dr. Wong is a consultant and clinical lead at King's College Hospital, London. He also serves as a committee member for the Intensive Care Society FUSIC, examiner for the European Diploma of Intensive Care Medicine, on the executive committee of the International Fluid Academy. Additional resources: Intravenous fluid therapy in the perioperative and critical care setting" Executive summary of the International Fluid Academy (IFA). Malbrain ML, et al. Ann. Intensive Care 2020: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32449147/ Multidisciplinary expert panel report on fluid stewardship: perspectives and practice. Malbrain ML, et al. Annals of Intensive Care 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37747558/ The emerging concept of fluid tolerance: A position paper. Kattan E, et al. Journal of Critical Care 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35660844/…

This episode of Critical Matters will close 2024 with a year in review. Dr. Sergio Zanotti is going solo and will discuss a couple of relevant clinical guidelines and review five clinical trials. To close, he'll share some of his favorite books for 2024. Additional Resources: Critical Care Management of Patients Post Cardiac Arrest (AHA/NCS): Hirsch KG, Abella BS, Amorim E, et al. Critical Care Management of Patients After Cardiac Arrest: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association and Neurocritical Care Society. Neurocrit Care. 2024;40(1):1-37: https://bit.ly/4087o1w 2024 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations: Summary From the Basic Life Support; Advanced Life Support; Pediatric Life Support: Neonatal Life Support; Education, Implementation, and Teams; and First Aid Task Forces. Circulation 2024: https://bit.ly/4fD4o1R PREOXI Trial. Gibbs KW, Semler MW, Driver BE, et al. Noninvasive Ventilation for…

In this episode Dr. Zanotti discusses the current role of pulmonary artery catheters in critical care medicine. He is joined by Dr. Steven Hollenberg a critical care and cardiology physician. Dr. Hollenberg is a professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and director of cardiac intensive care at the Emory Heart & Vascular Center. Additional resources: Pulmonary Artery Catheter Use and Risk of In-hospital Death in Heart Failure Cardiogenic Shock. Kanwar MK, et al. J Card Fail. 2023 Sep;29(9):1234-1244: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37187230/ Pulmonary Artery Catheter Use and Mortality in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Bernard S Kadosh, et al. JACC Heart Failure 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37318422/ Complete Hemodynamic Profiling With Pulmonary Artery Catheters in Cardiogenic Shock Is Associated With Lower In-Hospital Mortality. A Reshad Garan, et al. JACC Heart Failure 2020: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33121702/ Right Heart Catheterization in Cardiogenic Shock Is Associated…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the application of behavioral economics to clinical practice, specifically choice framing in ICU goals-of-care Meetings. He is joined by Dr. Joanna Hart, a pulmonary critical care physician and assistant professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She is also a core faculty member of the Palliative and Advanced Illness Research Center and is affiliated with the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics. Additional Resources: Clinician's Use of Choice Framing in ICU Family Meetings. Joanna L Hart et al. Crit Care Med 2024: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38912880/ Using Default Options and Other Nudges to Improve Critical Care. Scott Halpern. Crit Care Med 2019: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5826616/ Books mentioned in this episode: Demon Copperhead. By Barbara Kingsolver: https://bit.ly/4hYCqQv Thinking Fast and Slow. By Daniel Kahneman: https://bit.ly/4i3eknK Nudge. By Richard…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses the management of critically ill patients after cardiac surgery, focusing on the clinical management of two important complications: hemorrhage and cardiac arrest. He is joined by Dr. Christopher Noel, a critical care attending at Cooper University Healthcare. Dr. Noel is also an assistant professor of medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and associate program director for the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship and the Clerkship Director for Critical Care Medicine Clerkships for Medical Students. Additional resources: American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) TSRA Primer- Critical Care: https://www.aats.org/tsra-primer-post-operative-bleeding https://www.aats.org/tsra-primer-cardiac-arrest-post-cardiotomy The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Expert Consensus for the Resuscitation of Patients Who Arrest After Cardiac Surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2017: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28122680/ Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists clinical…

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discuss the management of critically ill patients undergoing hyperglycemic emergencies. He is joined by Dr. George Willis, a practicing emergency medicine physician. Dr. Willis is an Associate Professor and Associate Program Director for Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, where he also serves as Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs. A recognized clinical educator, he holds a particular interest in endocrine emergencies, vascular emergencies, procedural education, and medical education. Additional resources: Hyperglycemic Crises in Adults with Diabetes: A Consensus Report. GE Umpierez, et al. Diabetes Care 2024: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/47/8/1257/156808/Hyperglycemic-Crises-in-Adults-With-Diabetes-A Clinical Effects of Balanced Crystalloids vs Saline in Adults With Diabetic Ketoacidosis. WH Self, et al. JAMA 2020: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7670314/ Evaluation and Management of the Critically Ill…

This episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses music and critical illness and explores the topic through the lens of his guest – Andrew Schulman. Andrew is the first musician to be accepted as a professional Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) member. He is a member of the SCCM ICU Liberation Committee, where he met and had the opportunity to work with Dr. Zanotti. Andrew and his wife Wendy, are the subjects of Josh Aronson's documentary film Andrew & Wendy (2015), which has aired multiple times on PBS-TV. He is the author of Waking The Spirit: A Musician's Journey Healing Body, Mind, and Soul. Since its release in the U.S. in August 2016, Waking the Spirit has been chosen as an Oliver Sacks Foundation Best Book of the Year Selection, Finalist for the Books for a Better Life Award, and a People Magazine Pick in Nonfiction. Additional Resources: Andrew Schulman's Website https://andrewschulmanmusic.com/about Books and Albums mentioned in this episode: Waking The Spirit: A Musicians's Journey Healing Body,…

In this episode of Critical Matters, Dr. Zanotti discusses the use of intravenous albumin in critical care. He is joined by Dr. Jeannie Callum, Director of Transfusion Medicine and Professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queens University in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Callum's research focuses on blood utilization, hemostasis in the bleeding patient, and transfusion-related errors. She has received numerous awards and published extensively. Dr. Callum is the lead author of "Use of Intravenous Albumin: A Guidelines from the International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines," published earlier this year in CHEST. Additional Resources: Use of Intravenous Albumin. A Guideline from the International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines. CHEST 2024: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(24)00285-X/fulltext International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines Website: https://www.ictmg.org/ Ten myths about albumin. M Joannidis, et al. Intensive Care Med 2022:…

Much attention has been paid to targeted temperature management (TTM) in post-cardiac arrest patients. The evidence for this practice continues to evolve, and previous episodes of Critical Matters have covered this topic. In this episode, Dr. Zanotti focuses on other aspects of Neurological Support in the ICU for post-cardiac arrest patients. He is joined by Dr. Edilberto Amorin, a neurologist with subspecialty training in critical care and epilepsy. He has expertise in neurological intensive care, telemedicine, and multimodal brain monitoring with EEG. Dr Amorin is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and directs the Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology Service at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Additional resources: Critical Care Management of Patients After Cardiac Arrest: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and Neurocritical Care Society. Circulation 2024: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38040992/ Treating Rhythmic and…

Hypotension and shock are both recognized as complications post-cardiac surgery. Some patients may develop more severe shock refractory to fluids and catecholamines. This response is also known as today's podcast episode, topic: vasoplegia after cardiac surgery. For this discussion, Dr. Zanotti is joined by Dr. Iqbal Ratnani, an intensivist who practices at the DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and the Center for Critical Care at Houston Methodist Hospital. Dr. Ratnani is an Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology & Critical Care for the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at Weill Cornell Medical College. In addition, Dr. Ratnani is the Director of Critical Care Education at the Center for Critical Care. Additional resources: Vasoplegia: A Review. Igbal Ratnani, et al. Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37547893/ Vasoplegic Syndrome after Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Cardiovascular Surgery: Pathophysiology and Management in Critical Care. Zied Ltaief,…

We pulled out another favorite out this week - Dr. Zanotti's deep-dive on tracheostomy emergencies. Tracheostomies are common in ICU patients. Every intensivist should be capable of recognizing and providing initial management to potentially serious complications associated with tracheostomies. Dr. Zanotti is joined by Drs. Laura Bontempo and Sara Manning, emergency physicians and educators with a special interest in the topic. Dr. Laura Bontempo is an associate professor of emergency medicine and serves as Assistant Director for Faculty Development & Resident Education in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical School. Dr. Sara Manning is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Additional Resources: Tracheostomy Emergencies. LJ Bontempo and SL Manning. Emerg Med Clin N Am 2019: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30454773/ Link to Onepager on Tracheostomy Emergencies:…

Today, we are revisiting one of our favorite episodes from last year - The Forgotten Patient. Dr. Zanotti focuses on the loved ones and families of critically ill patients and explores the topic through the lens of a cardiac arrest co-survivor. His guest is Kristin Flanary, a cognitive neuroscientist and social psychologist. Kristin is a co-survivor of cancer(twice) and a co-survivor of sudden cardiac arrest. She is also known for her social media alter ego – Lady Glaucomflecken. In 2022 Kristin co-founded Glaucomflecken LLC, where she works to advocate for caregivers and co-survivors of medical trauma and critical illness, community CPR and AED use, and sudden cardiac arrest survivorship. She has written about her experience as a co-survivor in medical journals and has received an EMS Cardiac Arrest Save Challenge Coin, the Citizen CPR Foundation's '40 Under 40' award, and the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Champion award. Additional Resources: The Quiet Place. K. Flanary. Journal of Cardiac…

In this episode, Dr. Zanotti covers temporary pacing in the ICU. He is joined by Dr. Christopher Noel, a Critical Care Attending at Cooper University Healthcare, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. In addition, Dr. Noel is the Associate Program Director for the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship and the Director of the Medical Student Critical Care Clerkship. Additional resources: Temporary Epicardial Pacing After Cardiac Surgery. Cronin b, et al. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36180288/ Temporary epicardial pacing after cardiac surgery: a practical review. Part 1: General considerations in the management of epicardial pacing. M.C. Reade. Anesthesia 2007: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17300304/ Temporary epicardial pacing after cardiac surgery: a practical review. Part 2: Selection of epicardial pacing modes and troubleshooting. M.C. Reade. Anesthesia 2007: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17381573/…

Disturbances in neurological function due to primary neurological disorders or organ failure from critical illness are common in patients admitted to the ICU. In this episode, Dr. Zanotti discusses the neurological physical exam in the ICU. He is joined by Dr. Adam Rizvi, a neurologist with Neurocritical care and vascular neurology fellowship training who currently practices critical care, neurocritical care, and tele-neurology/tele-stroke in several hospitals in California. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Rizvi is an accomplished educator and researcher. Additional Resources: Neurological examination of critically ill patients: a pragmatic approach: Report of an ESICM expert panel. Intensive Care Med 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24522878/ Critical Matters Podcast episode: Brain Death / Death by Neurological Criteria. Host: S. Zanotti. Guest: D. Greer: https://soundphysicians.com/podcast-episode/?podcast_id=342&track_id=1677810255 Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Ridiculously Simple. Edition 6.…

This is the second part in our series discussing temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS). Part one, covered different types of devices for tMCS, pathophysiology of shock, clinical indications, and general considerations for critical care clinicians. In Part 2, Dr. Zanotti covers a more detailed discussion of medical management and troubleshooting of patients on tMCS. He is again joined by Bindu Akkanti, MD, an associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at UTHealth Houston. Dr. Akkanti is the Medical Director of the Heart Failure ICU and the Director of Critical Care for the Heart & Vascular Institute at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center. Additional Resources: More about Dr. Akkanti: https://med.uth.edu/internalmedicine/2022/11/17/bindu-akkanti-md/ Mechanical Circulatory Support Part 1 - Critical Matters Podcast. https://soundphysicians.com/podcast-episode/?podcast_id=342&track_id=1828006629 A Comprehensive Review of Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices.…

In the first part of this two-part series, Dr. Zanotti is joined by Bindu Akkanti, MD, an associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at UTHealth Houston. Together, they discuss temporary mechanical circulatory support, an increasingly vital modality in treating cardiogenic shock and other subsets of critically ill patients in shock. Dr. Akkanti is the Medical Director of the Heart Failure ICU and the Director of Critical Care for the Heart & Vascular Institute at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center. Additional Resources: More about Dr. Bindu Akkanti: https://med.uth.edu/internalmedicine/2022/11/17/bindu-akkanti-md/ Review of Pathophysiology of Cardiogenic Shock and Escalation of Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices. Pahuja M, et al. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36847990/ Temporary mechanical circulatory support devices: practical considerations for all stakeholders. Salter BS, et al. Nature Reviews Cardiology 2023:…