Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Resus Room: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Simon Laing, Rob Fenwick & James Yates
Emergency Medicine podcasts based on evidence based medicine focussed on practice in and around the resus room.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago55 min
Pupillary Reflex; Roadside to Resus
We assess the pupils in almost every significantly unwell or injured patient - but how much are they really telling us? It is easy to document 'pupils equal and reactive' and move on, yet a changing pupil may be one of the earliest outward signs of a developing intracranial catastrophe. Equally, anisocoria in a completely well patient may be longstanding and entirely benign. In this Roadside to Resus episode, we work through the anatomy and physiology of the pupillary light reflex before applying it to three important clinical situations: the blown pupil following a significant head injury, unequal or irregular pupils in a patient with a GCS of 15, and bilaterally fixed and dilated pupils in and following cardiac arrest, along with a deep dive into the evidence base. We discuss how to decide which pupil is abnormal, the warning signs of third nerve palsy and Horner's syndrome, ocular and drug-related causes, and why serial change matters more than an isolated measurement. We also explore automated pupillometry, what the NPi can add, and why fixed pupils should never be used alone to determine futility or neurological prognosis. Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via X @TheResusRoom! Simon. Rob & James
- 2 weeks ago36 min
September 2026; papers of the month
Welcome back to September 2026's Papers of the Month, and this month we've got three papers that are really focused on the practical end of emergency and prehospital care. First up, we're looking at what happens after we've performed a prehospital RSI. We put a huge amount of emphasis on getting the induction right, but what about maintaining adequate anaesthesia afterwards? This paper looks at intermittent bolus sedation following prehospital emergency anaesthesia, the variation in dosing between patients, and whether we might actually be running the risk of under-sedating some of them and compromising their care. Then we're staying prehospital and asking a really simple question in trauma: how good are the physiological numbers we use to identify the sick patient? We've all used shock index, but could NEWS actually do a better job of predicting mortality, transfusion requirements and subsequent resource utilisation? And finally, we're back to RSI and rocuronium. A variety of dosing strategies can be seen in practice but could going higher improve first-pass success? And importantly, does that relationship still hold in patients with obesity or hypoperfusion? Three clinically relevant papers, plenty to challenge our current practice, and as always, lots to get into. Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via social media @TheResusRoom! Simon & Rob
- Aug 2, 202635 min
August 2026; papers of the month
This month we've got another really varied mix of papers that all have the potential to influence everyday emergency and prehospital practice. We start by asking a question that's becoming increasingly relevant as prehospital critical care teams develop ever more advanced capabilities: are all those extra interventions costing us precious scene time, and if so, how much? We then move into post-cardiac arrest care with one of the biggest oxygen trials we've seen to date, looking at whether aiming for conservative oxygen targets actually improves neurological outcomes after ROSC. Finally, we tackle one of emergency medicine's diagnostic challenges, necrotising soft tissue infection. We'll look at what the latest evidence tells us about physical examination, imaging and the much-debated LRINEC score, and whether any of them are good enough to confidently rule this devastating disease in or out. As always, we'll pull apart the methodology, discuss what these studies mean for our own practice and, perhaps most importantly, ask whether they should actually change what we do tomorrow. Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via X @TheResusRoom! Simon & Rob
- Jul 16, 202650 min
Laryngectomy and Tracheostomy Emergencies; Roadside to Resus
Tracheostomy and laryngectomy emergencies are classic high-acuity, low-frequency situations. They do not happen every day, but when they do, airway problems can develop quickly, and the wrong intervention can make things significantly worse. In this episode, we work through the practical approach to these patients, starting with the most important distinction: a patient with a tracheostomy may still have a patent upper airway, whereas someone who has undergone a total laryngectomy is an obligate neck breather. That single anatomical difference determines where oxygen and ventilation need to be delivered. We'll look at the different tubes, cuffs, inner cannulas, speaking valves and humidification devices you may encounter, before moving through the common causes of deterioration, particularly obstruction, displacement and bleeding. Using the National Tracheostomy Safety Project's green and red emergency algorithms, we break management down into simple, sequential steps: apply oxygen, remove attachments, remove the inner cannula, pass a suction catheter, deflate the cuff when appropriate and remove a non-functioning tube when necessary. These cases can initially feel intimidating, but a calm, structured approach can make them far more manageable. Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via X @TheResusRoom! Simon. Rob & James
- Jul 1, 202631 min
July 2026; papers of the month
Welcome back to July's Papers of the Month. This month we've got three papers that tackle some of the biggest questions we face in emergency and critical care medicine. They're all very different studies, but each one looks at an intervention that many of us use, or at least think about, on a regular basis. First up, we look at ARISE FLUIDS, a major trial examining one of the longest-running debates in sepsis care. Should we be reaching for fluids or vasopressors first in septic shock? We've spent years worrying about giving too much fluid, and equally worrying about starting vasopressors too early. This study gives us some of the best evidence yet about what happens when we take a more restrictive fluid approach and start vasopressors earlier. Next, we move to cardiac arrest and the BIHCA trial, looking at sodium bicarbonate during in-hospital cardiac arrest. Despite guideline recommendations and a lack of convincing evidence, bicarbonate continues to be used in many arrests around the world. This study finally gives us some high-quality data on whether it's actually helping our patients. And finally, we head back to the ECG with a fascinating paper looking at the lead V5 T-wave to R-wave ratio as a marker of right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary embolism. It won't change practice tomorrow, but it raises some interesting questions about what the ECG may still have to tell us about risk stratification in PE. So let's get into it! Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via X @TheResusRoom! Simon & Rob
- Jun 16, 202659 min
Excellence in Facemask Ventilation; Roadside to Resus
Face mask ventilation is one of those skills that can easily be overlooked. It's often seen as the simple bit of airway management — something that sits below the glamour of videolaryngoscopy, fibre-optics and endotracheal intubation. But the reality is that excellent face mask ventilation is one of the most important airway skills we have. In this episode, we take a deep dive into bag-valve-mask ventilation and airway adjuncts, exploring why this is far more than just putting a mask on a face and squeezing a bag. We discuss when facemask ventilation is indicated, how to identify patients who may be difficult to ventilate, and the practical steps that can dramatically improve success rates. We cover positioning, airway opening manoeuvres, mask seal techniques, the role of airway adjuncts and how to recognise whether your ventilations are actually working. We also look at troubleshooting common problems, the evidence comparing bag-mask ventilation with supraglottic airways and endotracheal intubation, and how to decide when it's time to move to another airway strategy. Whether you're working in the emergency department, prehospital environment or critical care, this episode is packed with practical tips, cognitive aids and evidence-based advice to help you deliver facemask ventilation with confidence and excellence. Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via X @TheResusRoom! Simon. Rob & James
- Jun 1, 202632 min
June 2026; papers of the month
This month's episode takes us deep into trauma care, but not just the medicine we deliver but also the systems, circumstances and social factors that shape who survives and who doesn't. We start by looking at a remarkable paper from Gaza describing the use of ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis, large-bore drainage and intrapericardial tranexamic acid as definitive management for penetrating cardiac tamponade. In a setting where immediate thoracotomy simply wasn't always possible, the authors report some pretty incredible survival figures and challenge a lot of the dogma around penetrating cardiac injury. It's a fascinating example of innovation being driven by necessity. We then move onto a huge epidemiological study from the London Trauma System exploring when and where trauma deaths occur in a mature major trauma network. The findings are stark — most deaths now occur before hospital arrival, often within minutes, and many from potentially reversible causes. It really makes us think about where the next advances in trauma care need to happen. Finally, we finish with an incredibly important and sobering paper examining knife-related deaths in children and young people across England. This isn't just about anatomy and interventions — it's about deprivation, adverse childhood experiences, safeguarding and public health. It's a paper that's difficult to read at times, but absolutely essential for anyone involved in emergency and prehospital care. Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via X @TheResusRoom! Simon & Rob
- May 14, 202644 min
Reframing Anaphylaxis; Roadside to Resus
Anaphylaxis is one of those conditions we think we have got pretty well sorted. Recognise it early, give adrenaline, support the airway and circulation, and crack on. And in fairness, for the vast majority of patients, that approach works really well. But in this Roadside to Resus episode we take a step back and ask a pretty uncomfortable question, have we actually been thinking about anaphylaxis in the wrong way? Using some fascinating new evidence from the UK National Child Mortality Database, we explore the emerging understanding that fatal food-triggered anaphylaxis may be much more of a respiratory catastrophe than the classic circulatory collapse we often picture in our heads. The findings are genuinely thought provoking. Many of the fatal paediatric cases reviewed showed overwhelming airway and breathing compromise long before cardiovascular collapse occurred, with deterioration happening frighteningly quickly in the prehospital phase. We work through the current Resuscitation Council UK and NICE guidance, look at where diagnostic confusion still exists, and discuss why early adrenaline absolutely remains the cornerstone of treatment. But we also explore whether our mental model of anaphylaxis needs updating, particularly when it comes to respiratory assessment, escalation and oxygenation strategies. We're also incredibly grateful to be joined by Ben McKenzie, who shares the devastating personal story behind the development of the AMAX4 approach and the lessons it holds for all of us managing critically unwell patients in the ED and prehospital environment. This is a really powerful episode about recognition, trajectory and reframing how we think about severe anaphylaxis. Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via X @TheResusRoom! Simon & Rob
Get The Resus Room summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
The Internet Book of Critical Care Podcast
A podcast exploring critical care medicine through chapter discussions and evidence-based updates from The Internet Book of Critical Care.
The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast
Expert-led internal medicine discussions with clinical insights and humor for primary care and hospital medicine providers.
This Week in Cardiology
A weekly summary and analysis of key developments in cardiology for healthcare professionals.
The Clinical Problem Solvers
Experts discuss diagnostic reasoning in clinical medicine.
Water Rescue with Dr. Michael Kachmar, DPM
Conversations with water rescue professionals about their real-world experiences, training, and operations in saving lives on the water.
Best Medicine
A comedian and guests explore groundbreaking, quirky, and life-changing innovations in medicine through history and science.
Red Pill Your Healthcast
Two healthcare providers discuss overlooked health issues and empower listeners to make informed decisions for their families.
The House of Pod
A gastrointestinal doctor and colleagues discuss medicine with humor and insight.
What's Up Docs?
Doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken examine health science and medical advice to help listeners navigate conflicting wellness claims.
Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast
Explores psychiatry and psychotherapy through interviews with experts, trainees, and individuals sharing lived mental health experiences.
Plenary Session
A medical oncologist discusses cancer care, health policy, and evidence-based medicine.
Out of the Gray (Gy) - Standard Imaging
Conversations with experts in radiation oncology exploring advancements in technology, research, and clinical practice.
About The Resus Room
Emergency Medicine podcasts based on evidence based medicine focussed on practice in and around the resus room.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Resus Room in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Resus Room daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Resus Room as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Resus Room podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Resus Room product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Simon Laing, Rob Fenwick & James Yates.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Resus Room release new episodes?
The Resus Room publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Resus Room cover?
The Resus Room covers topics including Science, Medicine, Fitness, Health & Fitness. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Resus Room summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.