When air meets uncertainty, judgment matters most. We dig into the evolving landscape of airway management where video laryngoscopy, supraglottic devices, and even ECMO promise better outcomes, yet cognitive errors and non‑OR settings still account for many of the most devastating events. Drawing on recent studies, malpractice claims, and national audits, we map the pressure points that turn a difficult intubation into a crisis and show how to defuse them with clearer plans, tighter teamwork, and sharper skills.

We start with three high‑yield rules that change outcomes fast: cap the number of attempts, anticipate physiologic crashes, and switch early to rescue strategies. From there, we unpack the INTUBE findings on hypoxemia and cardiovascular instability, plus data showing how repeated attempts compound failure. Video laryngoscopy gets a balanced look: why it lifts first‑pass success across ED and ICU intubations, and how overreliance can silently erode direct laryngoscopy and awake fiberoptic competence. Expect practical strategies to preserve breadth: intentional DL reps, awake FOI workshops, and shared mental models that define time limits and bailout triggers.

We also tackle unsettled ground. Aspiration risk reduction remains murky; cricoid pressure under general anesthesia has not delivered clear benefits, and robust trials comparing asleep rapid‑sequence to awake, topicalized methods in high‑risk patients are missing. We offer a decision lens to tailor approach by anatomy, physiology, and available expertise. For extreme airways—think massive goiter or tracheal compression—we explore where ECMO fits: preemptive, standby, or rescue. You’ll hear how activation criteria, cannulation readiness, and interprofessional rehearsal turn a complex tool into a safety net rather than a new hazard.

By the end, you’ll have a cleaner playbook: plan A–D that you can execute under stress, a review of device trade‑offs, and concrete ways to reduce cognitive traps that drive harm. If this conversation sharpens your next airway, share it with a colleague, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/294-from-video-laryngoscopy-to-ecmo-what-keeps-airway-management-safe/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

What if the anesthesia workstation could see trouble coming and stop it before it starts? We explore how anesthesia moves from reactive to predictive by blending AI, medical-grade wearables, and closed loop systems with a strong safety culture. The story of Alex—a 75-year-old who developed postoperative delirium and fell—anchors the stakes and shows how early signals, if recognized and acted on, can change a life.

We break down practical uses of machine learning in the perioperative space: forecasting hypotension minutes ahead, integrating multimodal physiologic data for real-time decision support, and taming alarm fatigue with smarter, context-aware alerts. From operating room monitors to infusion pumps, interoperability turns scattered data into timely action.

Automation takes the next step with closed loop control. Imagine EEG-guided dosing that keeps hypnosis within target ranges, fluid and vasopressor titration that stabilizes hemodynamics, and a supervisory controller that coordinates these loops so clinicians can focus on communication, situational awareness, and patient advocacy. Through it all, safety culture remains the foundation: psychological safety, shared learning, and consistent prioritization of safety over short-term operational pressures. Technology should amplify the human connection, not replace it.

You’ll leave with a clear view of what to pilot now—AI decision support in high-yield scenarios, targeted wearable programs for high-risk pathways, and structured training that embeds safety into daily practice. If this vision sparks ideas or questions, reach out and join the conversation. Subscribe, share with a colleague who cares about perioperative safety, and leave a review to help more clinicians find the show.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/293-reimagining-anesthesia-with-ai-wearables-and-safety-culture/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

Maternal safety has never mattered more, and the stakes span far beyond the delivery room. We revisit four decades of progress in obstetric anesthesia—from safer neuraxial techniques and airway strategies to medication safeguards—and then get honest about what still puts patients at risk. With author insights and frontline examples, we connect the dots between evidence, teamwork, and the lived experience of childbirth to show where anesthesia can lead meaningful change.

Rising patient complexity reshapes our role. We lean into risk stratification with the Obstetric Comorbidity Index, proactive antenatal planning, and sustained postpartum follow-up. We address maternal mental health and substance use disorder with trauma-informed care and smarter pain plans. And we face inequity directly—why Black women bear disproportionate harm and how standardized pathways, equitable escalation, and advocacy move outcomes in the right direction. Looking ahead, we explore point-of-care ultrasound for neuraxial guidance and aspiration assessment, AI-driven tools for early detection, wearables for postpartum monitoring, and enhanced recovery after cesarean to cut variation and strengthen reliability.

Subscribe, share with a colleague on labor and delivery, and leave a review with one change you’ll make this week to advance maternal safety.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/292-forty-years-of-obstetric-anesthesia-progress-and-the-work-ahead/

© 2026, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation