PedsCrit
PedsCrit
Welcome to PedsCrit! We are a collaborative educational PICU podcast working with pediatric critical care educators around the world to create high-yield podcast episodes on core PICU topics. Find us at PedsCrit.com, or reach us via email at PedsCritPodcast@gmail.com. We hope you enjoy! No financial conflicts of interest. Each clinical episode is made in coordination with a pediatric intensivist or guest that is a clinical or scholarly leader on the topic being discussed. Podcasts do not receive formal peer review prior to publication but quality and accuracy is closely monitored by the producers throughout the creation process to ensure accuracy and clarity. If you have any comments, suggestions, or feedback-you can email us at pedscritpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find us on twitter visit @critpeds and @pedscrit on instagram. Want to support the show?Please rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! PedsCrit is a passion project and is not supported by advertisements. Donations are appreciated to support ongoing costs (podcast hosting, audio editing software, website support, etc.). Search @PedsCrit on Venmo, or you can also support us by becoming a patron on Patreon. 100% of funds go to supporting the show. Please remember that all content during this episode is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used as medical advice. The views expressed during this episode by hosts and our guests are their own and do not reflect the official position of their institutions.Thank you for listening to PedsCrit!-Alice Shanklin & Zac Hodges
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 23, 2026 • 37min
Pulmonary Embolism with Ayesha Zia
Ayesha Zia, pediatric hematologist and thrombosis expert at UT Southwestern, discusses pediatric pulmonary embolism. She covers early warning signs in children. She explains limits of clinical rules and D-dimer, risk stratification, and the role of echo and CT. She describes multidisciplinary PERT teams, reperfusion choices, anticoagulation timing, ECMO use, and key ICU considerations.
Mar 9, 2026 • 56min
Withdrawal of Life Sustaining Therapy with Jaime Jump
Jamie Jump, dual-trained pediatric critical care and palliative care physician and program director at Baylor/Texas Children’s, walks through withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy with clear, practical guidance. She covers preparing the room and family, anticipating symptoms, medication strategies, ventilator weaning, ethical distinctions, and team support. Multiple short, actionable topics are discussed with compassion and clinical detail.
9 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 22min
Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Critical Illness with Dr. Jennifer Muszynski (2/2)
Jennifer Muszynski, a pediatric intensivist and transfusion immunology researcher, and Kailey Remien, a pediatric critical care fellow focused on data science and health equity, discuss RBC transfusion in critical illness. They cover transfusion timing in septic shock, balancing perfusion versus oxygenation in ARDS, higher hemoglobin targets for severe TBI, and nuanced thresholds on ECMO and cyanotic single-ventricle physiology.
13 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 43min
Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Critical Illness with Dr. Jennifer Muszynski (1/2)
Kailey Remien, a pediatric critical care fellow focused on data science and health equity, and Jennifer Muszynski, a pediatric intensivist studying transfusion effects on immune function, discuss why anemia is common in the PICU. They cover physiologic compensation for low hemoglobin, landmark transfusion trials and thresholds, transfusion harms, alternatives like IV iron, and using machine learning to personalize transfusion decisions.
Jan 26, 2026 • 34min
Exertional Heat Stroke with Tobias Straube
Tobias Straube, pediatric critical care physician at Duke who researches exertional heat illness. He walks through recognizing exertional vs classic heat stroke. He highlights risk factors, prevention and acclimatization. He describes on-scene rapid cooling, monitoring core temperature, phases of illness, and common organ injuries to watch for.
55 snips
Jan 12, 2026 • 30min
Controversies in Pediatric Critical Care Airway Management with Alex Bragg, Chichi Egbuta & Sapna Kudchadkar (2/2)
Dr. Chinyere Egbuta, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Boston Children's Hospital, joins Dr. Alex Bragg and Dr. Sapna Kudchadkar to discuss vital airway management strategies in critically-ill children. They debate the effectiveness of video laryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy and the importance of maintaining traditional skills. The panel shares practical tips like using patient photos for training and emphasizes humility in seeking help. They highlight how LMAs can be crucial rescue devices and the need for ongoing skill refreshers in a fast-paced environment.
80 snips
Jan 5, 2026 • 54min
Controversies in Pediatric Critical Care Airway Management with Alex Bragg, Chichi Egbuta & Sapna Kudchadkar (1/2)
Join pediatric experts Chinyere Egbuta, a Harvard anesthesiologist, and Sapna Kudchadkar, Anesthesiologist-in-Chief at Johns Hopkins, as they dive into essential airway management techniques for critically ill children. They discuss pre-oxygenation strategies and the effective use of high-flow nasal cannula and BiPAP. The conversation touches on translating adult evidence to pediatrics, the nuances of rapid sequence intubation, and the importance of careful monitoring during procedures. This insightful discussion is a must-listen for anyone involved in pediatric critical care.
68 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 39min
Hyperosmolar DKA with Dr. Nicole Glaser
Dr. Nicole Glaser, a leading pediatric endocrinologist at UC Davis, delves into hyperosmolar diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complex condition challenging standard treatment protocols. She explains the critical differences between hyperosmolar DKA and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS), emphasizing the importance of tailored management strategies. Listeners gain insights on fluid resuscitation, insulin timing, and the risks of cerebral edema. With her expertise in pediatric DKA guidelines, Dr. Glaser highlights pitfalls in recognition and the need for careful electrolyte monitoring.
4 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 20min
Nutrition in Critical Illness with Dr. Enid Martinez, 2/2
Dr. Enid Martinez, a leading expert in pediatric critical care and nutrition at Boston Children's Hospital, shares her insights on the vital role of nutrition in critically ill children. She discusses when to use trophic feeds and the pitfalls of Pedialyte. Monitoring for feeding intolerance is crucial, and she explains preferring post-pyloric feeds over prokinetics. Enid also emphasizes the impact of opioid-induced constipation on feeding and the importance of early parenteral nutrition for malnourished patients. Prepare for an enlightening discussion on optimizing pediatric care!
16 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 45min
Nutrition in Critical Illness with Dr. Enid Martinez, 1/2
Dr. Enid Martinez, a Senior Associate in pediatric critical care at Boston Children's Hospital, shares her expertise on nutrition's critical role in the recovery of severely ill children. She discusses alarming rates of malnutrition in the PICU and the metabolic disruptions caused by critical illness. Listeners learn about early feeding goals and the importance of accurate energy assessments using indirect calorimetry. Enid highlights the need for multidisciplinary nutrition teams and warns against the dangers of overfeeding, which can exacerbate respiratory issues.
