Almost every anaesthetic involves a decision about ventilation — and the patient’s lungs shape every one of those decisions. The asthmatic needing an appendicectomy, the COPD patient listed for a knee replacement, the patient with undiagnosed sleep apnoea whose riskiest period is two nights post-op on the ward, and the patient whose record says “previous difficult intubation”.
In this episode Dr Gavin Nimon, (Orthopaedic Surgeon (https://glenelgorthopaedics.com.au/) ), talks with consultant anaesthetist Dr Nick Harrington about what happens to the lungs the moment someone lies flat on the table, and how an anaesthetist assesses and plans for respiratory disease. They cover the pre-operative history and examination that matter most, smoking and recent chest infections, when to investigate (and when an echo is more useful than lung function tests), asthma and bronchospasm, COPD and CO₂ retention, interstitial lung disease, how the lungs and the right heart interact under positive-pressure ventilation, obstructive sleep apnoea and positioning, bedside airway assessment and the difficult-airway plan, malignant hyperthermia, lung-protective ventilation, extubation, post-operative analgesia and the role of respiratory physiotherapy — ending with Nick’s three take-home messages for medical students and junior doctors.
Dr Nick Harrington graduated from the University of Queensland while serving part-time in the Australian Army, worked with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the Pilbara and holds a fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. He is now a consultant anaesthetist in Adelaide with fellowship training in paediatric and trauma anaesthesia, a special interest in regional anaesthesia, and is an examiner for the ANZCA primary exam.
This episode is general education for medical students, junior doctors and GPs. It is not medical advice and reflects Australian practice at the time of recording.
🎙️ Proudly Supported By Our Sponsors
Aussie Med Ed is independent and free — made possible by these amazing Australian organisations.
• Heidi Health — AI medical scribe built for Australian clinicians. Finish clinic on time and keep your focus on your patients. Visit Heidi Health (https://www.heidihealth.com)
• HealthShare — Australia's health information and referral platform, connecting GPs, specialists and patients. Visit HealthShare (https://www.healthshare.com.au)
• Avant Medical Defence Organisation — Protecting over 80,000 Australian healthcare professionals. Visit Avant (https://www.avant.org.au)
• eMedici -an Australian-made medical education platform for med students, junior doctors, and IMGs. Visit eMedici.com/MEDED (https://emedici.com/meded)
• Better Medical- GP clinics across QLD, SA, VIC and TAS – offering you the freedom to practise your way, backed by a strong support network. Visit BetterMedical (https://bettermedical.com.au/)
Thanking the organisations that make Aussie Med Ed possible. Visit our full Sponsors page (https://www.medicalpodcast.au/sponsors/)