In this episode, Alex and Josephine sit down with their colleagues Iliya and Kaitlyn, who both matched to anesthesia at McMaster University, and Tariq, who matched to anesthesia at the University of Alberta, to reflect on their journeys to residency. From choosing electives to preparing for interviews, they share practical insights and honest reflections on the CaRMS process, including parallel planning and personal growth along the way.

Whether you’re gearing up for CaRMS or just curious about the path to anesthesia, this episode is full of thoughtful advice you won’t want to miss.

Disclaimer: The advice shared in this episode is based solely on personal experiences as medical students navigating CaRMS. We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent, the McMaster University residency admissions committee or any other residency program.

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In this Airwayve episode, we kick off our anesthetic emergencies season with a practical look at hypoxemia and hypoxia. We review the oxygen cascade, the A–a gradient, and how oxygen is transported in blood, then clarify the difference between hypoxemia and tissue hypoxia through the lens of oxygen delivery and consumption. We break down the five major causes of hypoxemia and share a stepwise approach to troubleshooting intraoperative desaturation, from patient assessment to circuit and monitor checks. A clinical case of a patient with COPD and obesity ties everything together, highlighting how physiology guides real time anesthetic management.

Credits

Writer: Iliya Khakban

Editors: Alexander Xiang

Resident Editor: Kesikan Jayaraj

Staff Reviewer: Dr. Muhammad Imran Khan

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Don’t hold your breath for this one. In this month’s episode, we take a deep dive into ventilation basics and walk through how normal respiratory physiology compares to positive-pressure ventilation in the OR. We break down core settings like FiO₂, tidal volume, respiratory rate, I:E ratio, and PEEP, then explore common ventilation modes and when you might choose each one. To round things out, we apply it all to a real case and talk through how to pick safe and sensible settings for a patient with COPD. This episode is packed with practical tips to help you feel more comfortable at the ventilator during your next anesthesia rotation.

Credits

Writer: Irene Zhao

Editors: Alexander Xiang

Resident Editor: Puru Panchal

Staff Reviewer: Dr. Overington

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In this episode of Airwayve, join Manuela and Tariq as they explore the anesthetic considerations for patients with liver disease. We start with a refresher on liver physiology and its vital roles in metabolism, coagulation, and drug clearance, before delving into the pathophysiology of cirrhosis and how it affects perioperative management. From there, we discuss preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative goals, and postoperative care, highlighting key considerations for fluid management, anesthetic drug selection, and hemodynamic stability.

To put these concepts into context, we then walk through a clinical case and outline how to apply this framework to a patient with advanced liver disease coming to the OR.

Whether you’re preparing for clerkship or want to build a stronger foundation in perioperative medicine, this episode provides a clear and practical approach to managing patients with liver dysfunction.

Credits

Writer: Manuela Morgan
Editors: Alexander Xiang, Jenny Xinye Hu
Resident Editor: Ahmed Akhtar
Staff Reviewer: Dr. Saeda Nair

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In this episode of Airwayve, Alex and Josephine dive into the challenges of managing pulmonary hypertension in the OR. We begin by reviewing normal pulmonary vascular physiology, then move into the mechanisms and classifications of pulmonary hypertension. From there, we unpack the anesthetic implications, focusing on hemodynamic goals, drug choices, and monitoring strategies.

To bring these principles into context, we walk through a clinical scenario and consider how to assess risk, plan an induction, maintain stability throughout surgery, and safely manage emergence in a patient with pulmonary hypertension.

Whether you’re preparing for clerkship or aiming to sharpen your understanding of cardiopulmonary physiology, this episode offers a clear and practical guide to navigating pulmonary hypertension in anesthesia.

Credits

Writer: Tariq Atkin-Jones

Senior Editors: Alex Xiang & Jenny Xinye Hu

Resident Editor: Dr. Aman Malhotra

Staff Editor: Dr. Brent MacLellan

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In this episode of Airwayve, join Jenny and Alex as they discuss patients receiving prone positioning in the OR. We first start with the basics- what prone positioning looks like, how patients are safely flipped, and which surgeries require it. From there, we unpack the physiologic changes across cardiac, respiratory, and neurologic systems, and dive into the major complications anesthetists need to anticipate, including peripheral nerve injury, postoperative vision loss, airway challenges, and line access issues.

To bring it all together, we walk through a clinical case of a patient undergoing complex spine surgery, applying these principles to real-world anesthetic planning, intraoperative management, and emergence considerations.

Whether you’re preparing for your OR rotation or brushing up on perioperative physiology, this episode will give you a clear, structured framework for thinking about anesthetic management in prone positioning.

Credits
Writers: Alexander Xiang, Jenny Xinye Hu
Editors: Alexander Xiang, Jenny Xinye Hu
Resident Editor: Dr. Jonathan Wu
Staff Reviewer: Dr. Juan Bravo Montilla

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In this episode of Airwayve, your hosts Alex and Jenny tackle anaesthetic considerations for patients with elevated intracranial pressure. Join us as we break down the core anatomy and physiology behind ICP, explore common pathologies and discuss the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies used to manage these complex patients in the OR. From choosing the right induction agents to adjusting ventilation and perfusion targets, this episode is packed with essential pearls for medical students and early learners navigating neurosurgical cases. Stick around for a practice case to see how it all comes together!

Whether you’re prepping for your next rotation or brushing up on neuroanesthesia, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

Credits:
– Writer: Alexander Xiang
– Editors: Grace Huang, Winnie Liu
– Resident Editor: Dr. Hanna Levy
– Staff Reviewer: Dr. Tyler Oswald

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In this episode, Grace and Winnie sit down with their classmates Sanjum and Irene- newly matched anesthesia residents at McMaster and U of T- to reflect on their journeys to residency. From choosing electives to preparing for interviews, they share practical insights and honest reflections on the CaRMS process, parallel planning and personal growth along the way.

Whether you’re gearing up for CaRMS or just curious about the road to anesthesia, this one’s packed with wisdom you won’t want to miss!

Disclaimer: the advice shared in this episode is based solely on personal experiences as medical students navigating CaRMS. We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent, the McMaster University residency admissions committee or any other residency program.

Support the show