
The Critical Care Commute Podcast
The Critical Care Commute Podcast is grateful for your ears, insights and feedback. In return its hosts- Peter Brindley and Leon Byker, two ICU doctors in Alberta, Canada- offer up knowledge and debate with some of the most qualified, interesting, enlightened and provocative folks in Critical Care Medicine, and beyond. We strive to keep it practical and concise. Like you, our overriding goal is to get better, do better and feel better.
Latest episodes

Sep 1, 2023 • 15min
Sustainability with Prof. Hugh Montgomery.
Join us on our next podcast in the "State of the Art" series, as we delve into the realm of sustainability and climate change, guided by the wisdom and insights of Professor Hugh Montgomery.
In this podcast, Professor Hugh Montgomery challenge us to think critically, act responsibly, and embrace the urgent imperative of creating a sustainable and resilient future for all.
Who is Professor Hugh Montgomery? Read here:
Hugh Montgomery (physician) - Wikipedia

Aug 29, 2023 • 26min
Prof. Danny McAuley: ARDS, from old friends to new horizons.
Welcome to another episode in our "State of the Art Series". In this episode, we have the privilege of delving into the world of ARDS with a true pioneer in the field. Join us as we sit down with Professor Danny McAuley to unravel the complexities of ARDS – from its underlying mechanisms to the latest advancements in diagnosis and treatment.
Professor McAuley's major interest is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). His research strategy in ARDS is to investigate potential novel therapeutic agents in ARDS in vitro, in vivo in human models of ARDS and in phase 2 clinical trials to inform subsequent phase 3 clinical trials. He is currently investigating the role of MSCs, statins and ECCO2R in ARDS.

Aug 24, 2023 • 12min
A Good Day with Dr. Laura Vincent
Join us on this episode as Dr. Laura Vincent discusses what a good day looks like , for ICU staff.
Dr. Vincent is a Consultant in Critical Care and Anaesthesia at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH). She is the simulation and education lead for critical care at OUH and is passionate about multi-disciplinary medical education, with particular focus on human factors, patient safety and the link to staff wellbeing. She is an active faculty member of OxSTaR simulation centre, University of Oxford and delivers human factors and patient safety training.

Aug 18, 2023 • 12min
Comparative Physiology with Dr Matt Morgan.
Dr. Matt Morgan, a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, discusses the significance of comparative physiology in understanding respiratory therapies in the ICU. He explores the unique breathing mechanisms of animals such as frogs, giraffes, and peregrine falcons, emphasizing the importance of comparative physiology in treating critically ill patients. He also delves into the concept of One Medicine and its connection to breathing characteristics of the Bedwin Spiny Tailed Lizard.

Aug 10, 2023 • 29min
Hypoxemia with a Normal Chest X-Ray... and on being bothered! Prof Hugh Montgomery and Dr. Jessica Sullivan
In this episode, we are joined by Professor Hugh Montgomery, leading expert in intensive care medicine, and Dr Jessica Sullivan, Anaesthetic/ITU Registrar. Listen as they share their insights on a challenging clinical scenario: hypoxemia with a normal chest X-ray. What are the pitfalls and pearls of managing hypoxemia with a normal chest X-ray? How has COVID-19 changed our understanding of this phenomenon?
Professor Montgomery practices as a consultant in intensive care at the Whittington hospital in North London. His interest has been in the use of environmental stressors in the exploration of human (patho)physiology – often using a genetic approach. He was the first to discover a 'gene for human fitness'. He has published over 450 articles. He also has a strong interest in environmental impacts on health, and in climate change in particular.
Dr Jessica Sullivan's most recent position was as an Anesthetic/ITU Registrar at the Whittingtoin Hospital, where she worked alongside Prof Montgomery. She is on the organizing committee for the North Thames Anaesthetic Meeting (NTAM) conference. Medicine is not her only passion, she is a keen sportswoman and an ex competitive gymnast. She is currently undertaking training in acrobatics.
Learn more here:
Hugh Montgomery (physician) - Wikipedia
AirCraft Circus Academy aerial circus & studio hire, Greenwich, London – AirCraft Circus Academy Performance & Circus Training in London

Aug 2, 2023 • 12min
Focused Ultrasound in Intensive Care (FUSIC) with Drs. Marcus Peck and Jonny Wilkinson
Welcome to our next podcast in the "State of the Art 23" series. Listen as we talk POCUS and all things Focused Ultrasound for Intensive Care (FUSIC).
In this episode, we hare joined by awesome guests: Dr. Marcus Peck, a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine at Frimley Park Hospital and sits on the board of the Intensive Care Society (ICS)’s Focused Ultrasound for Intensive Care (FUSIC) committee; and Dr. Jonny Wilkinson, a consultant in intensive care medicine and anaesthesia at Northampton General Hospital.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!"
Further reading:
1. SONO-Olympiad
- CAEP Conference
2. FUSIC HD.
Comprehensive haemodynamic assessment with ultrasound - Ashley Miller, Marcus
Peck, Tom Clark, Hannah Conway, Segun Olusanya, Nick Fletcher, Nick Coleman,
Prashant Parulekar, Jonathan Aron, Justin Kirk-Bayley, Jonathan Nicholas
Wilkinson, Adrian Wong, Jennie Stephens, Antonio Rubino, Ben Attwood, Andrew
Walden, Andrew Breen, Manprit Waraich, Catherine Nix, Simon Hayward, 2022
(sagepub.com)

Jul 28, 2023 • 18min
Prof. Dan Martin on being Editor-in-Chief of JICS and Oxygen Extremes.
Professor Dan Martin is one busy, productive, chap. This Consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care is also the Editor-in-chief for the journal JICS. His research focuses on how we adapt to low oxygen and the harm from excessive oxygen. This has included several expeditions with the Xtreme Everest team. He is the chief investigator for the UK-ROX trial and EXAKT study. He also studies how exercise can improve clinical outcomes (including liver transplantation; the EXALT trial). He was awarded an OBE for prevention of infectious diseases and caring for those with Ebola.
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/alumni/invenite/the-big-interview-professor-daniel-martin-obe

Jul 24, 2023 • 15min
Breaking Bad News as a Shakespearean Tragedy - Dr Dale Gardiner.
Welcome to our second episode in our "State of the Art 2023" series, recorded live in Birmingham, UK. In this episode, Dr Dale Gardiner shares his experience in leading UK ICU teaching in breaking bad news - including a structured approach which they call ‘Breaking bad news as a Shakespearean tragedy’.
Dr Dale Gardiner is the Associate Medical Director – Deceased Organ Donation, at NHS Blood and Transplant and a Consultant in Adult Intensive Care Medicine at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Take-home message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxtec2TAV1g
Lecture link (Paywall):
Continulus | Breaking Bad News in the ICU: Part A

Jul 20, 2023 • 14min
Devastating Brain Injury - Dr Dan Harvey
Welcome to our "State of the Art 2023 Congress Series," recorded live in Birmingham, UK!
We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the first installment of our podcast series, where we dive deep into groundbreaking topics and innovations discussed right here at this conference.
As we embark on this podcast series, we aim to bring you captivating conversations, enlightening interviews, and thought-provoking discussions straight from the conference floor, background chatter, laughter and tea trolly clanging included!
Our first guest is Dr. Dan Harvey, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at Nottingham University Hospitals and University of Nottingham. He is Chair of the UK Intensive Care Societies Legal & Ethical Advisory Group, and an author of multiple ICS & FICM guidance documents. Dan has an active research interest with roles including National Lead for Innovation & Research in Organ Donation for NHS Blood and Transplant, Vice Chair of the NIHR’s National Critical Care Group, and is joint Chief Investigator for the SIGNET study, the world’s largest interventional study in organ donation (https://ics.ac.uk/soa23/speakers.html#:~:text=Dr%20Dan%20Harvey,in%20organ%20donation.)
Join us as we talk about devastating brain injury and what it means for patients, health care workers and families.

Jul 10, 2023 • 33min
Prof. John Myburgh talks Fluids, Catecholamines, South Africa and a little bit of Research.
In this episode, we have the honor of speaking with Professor John Myburgh, a former South African physician and researcher who has dedicated his life to improving the field of critical care medicine. Professor Myburgh has made significant contributions to the field of fluid resuscitation, catecholamines, and microbiomes. In this episode, we will be discussing his early years in medicine, some reflections on medicine in South Africa and how his experiences have shaped his research interests. We will also delve into the latest research on fluid resuscitation, catecholamines, and microbiomes. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this fascinating conversation with Professor John Myburgh.
Further Reading:
SAFE TBI: Cooper DJ, Myburgh J, Heritier S, et al.
Albumin resuscitation for traumatic brain injury: is intracranial hypertension the cause of increased mortality?. J Neurotrauma.
2013;30(7):512-518. doi:10.1089/neu.2012.2573
SAFE Study: Finfer S, Norton R, Bellomo R, Boyce N, French
J, Myburgh J. The SAFE study: saline vs. albumin for fluid resuscitation in the critically ill [retracted in: Mayr W, Prowse C. Vox Sang. 2004
Aug;87(2):142]. Vox Sang. 2004;87 Suppl 2:123-131.
doi:10.1111/j.1741-6892.2004.00468.x
CHEST Study: Myburgh JA, Finfer S, Bellomo R, et al.
Hydroxyethyl starch or saline for fluid resuscitation in intensive care [published correction appears in N Engl J Med. 2016 Mar 31;374(13):1298]. N Engl J Med. 2012;367(20):1901-1911. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1209759
PLUS study: Finfer, S., Micallef, S., Hammond, N., Navarra, L., Bellomo, R., Billot, L., ... & Myburgh, J. (2022). Balanced multielectrolyte solution versus saline in critically ill adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 386(9), 815-826.
CAT study: Myburgh JA, Higgins A, Jovanovska A, Lipman J,
Ramakrishnan N, Santamaria J, CAT Study Investigators. A comparison of epinephrine and norepinephrine in critically ill patients. Intensive care
medicine. 2008 Dec;34:2226-34.
SOAP II Trial: De Backer D, Biston P, Devriendt J, Madl C,
Chochrad D, Aldecoa C, Brasseur A, Defrance P, Gottignies P, Vincent JL. Comparison of dopamine and norepinephrine in the treatment of shock. New England Journal of Medicine. 2010 Mar 4;362(9):779-89.
Prof. Myburg on Catecholamines at SMACC/CODA: https://youtu.be/90ru25QuGFI
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