Palpation versus Ultrasound-Guided Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning Technique for Radial Artery Cannulation
When seconds count and precision matters—like during surgery—getting accurate, continuous blood pressure readings is critical. That’s where radial artery cannulation comes in. But while traditional methods rely on “feeling the pulse,” they’re not always reliable, especially in tough cases. Enter a game-changing technique: ultrasound-guided Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning (DNTP).
In this episode, we dive into a powerful new study that compares old-school palpation to DNTP and the results are stunning: an 88.5% first-pass success rate, fewer attempts, less time, and reduced equipment use with the ultrasound approach. We explore why this matters for patient safety, comfort, and clinical efficiency—and how this could redefine arterial cannulation in the OR.
Could this be the new gold standard for arterial access? Tune in and find out.
Read the full study: "Palpation versus Ultrasound-Guided Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning Technique for Radial Artery Cannulation" by Sujan Dhakal et al. in Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia.
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Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids in critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
When someone is critically ill, whether battling sepsis, ARDS, or severe pneumonia, corticosteroids have long been a debated topic. A massive new meta-analysis pooling data from over 10,000 ICU patients finally brings clarity. The headline: early, low-dose, prolonged steroid therapy cuts short-term mortality by roughly 15%, slashes ICU stays by 2 days, reduces time on ventilators by over 4 days, and boosts ventilator-free days—all without increasing infection or bleeding risks. Sure, there’s a slight uptick in hyperglycemia, but that’s a small price for improved survival and recovery
What does this mean for frontline clinicians? Think “early, gentle, and sustained.” Start steroids within the first 72 hours, keep them on for at least a week, and tailor doses to lower than 400 mg of hydrocortisone per day. Most surprisingly, even septic shock patients benefit most when hydrocortisone is paired with fludrocortisone
Want to see the full picture? Check out the study: “Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids in critically ill patients” by Lei Cao et al. in BMC Anesthesiology (July 2025).
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Effect of Treatment With Balanced Crystalloids Versus Normal Saline on the Mortality of Critically Ill Patients With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
When seconds count in the ICU, the IV fluid you choose could literally make or break a patient’s recovery. In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the biggest debates in critical care: balanced crystalloids vs. normal saline. A massive new meta-analysis of over 35,000 patients drops a game-changing truth—your fluid choice must depend on whether the patient has a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Balanced solutions may lower mortality in most critically ill patients, but for those with TBI, they could actually do harm. Tune in to hear how this data is flipping standard practice on its head and pushing the ICU world toward smarter, personalized resuscitation.
Want to dive deeper? Check out the full study “Effect of Treatment With Balanced Crystalloids Versus Normal Saline on the Mortality of Critically Ill Patients With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury” by José C. Diz et al. in Critical Care and Resuscitation.
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Comparative efficacy of remifentanil and fentanyl in mechanically ventilated ICU patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis on ventilation duration and delirium incidence
In today’s episode, we’re diving into a game-changing question: Can swapping fentanyl for remifentanil help ventilated ICU patients breathe on their own sooner, and with fewer complications like delirium?
This fresh meta-analysis pulls data from multiple studies and suggests remifentanil could reduce ventilation time by up to 21 hours in some cases and may lower the risk of ICU-related delirium. While the evidence is still growing and more rigorous trials are needed, the findings raise big questions about how we manage pain and recovery in critical care.
Tune in for key takeaways, clinical implications, and what this could mean for the future of ICU sedation.
Want to go deeper? Read the full study: "Comparative efficacy of remifentanil and fentanyl in mechanically ventilated ICU patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis on ventilation duration and delirium incidence" by Hiromu Okano et al. in Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Critical Care.
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Conservative Oxygen Therapy in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Adult Patients
When it comes to oxygen therapy for critically ill, ventilated patients, more isn’t always better—but is less the answer? The UK-ROX trial set out to find out, tracking over 16,000 ICU patients across 97 hospitals to test if targeting lower oxygen saturation (SpO₂ ~90%) could improve survival rates.
Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
In this episode, we unpack why conservative oxygen therapy didn’t significantly impact 90-day mortality—and what that means for frontline ICU care today. With no meaningful differences in mortality, ICU stays, or days free from organ support, the results suggest that “usual care” oxygen strategies may already be doing the job.
Key takeaways: • Conservative O₂ therapy didn’t improve survival • 90-day mortality nearly identical across groups • Usual care remains a safe and effective standard
Breathe easy—this episode cuts through the noise and gives you the real clinical takeaways.
Want to dig deeper? Check out the full study: "Conservative Oxygen Therapy in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Adult Patients" by Daniel S. Martin et al., published in JAMA.
Welcome to the ResusX:Podcast. Each episode features an amazing talk from the ResusX conference. This is a podcast dedicated to your sickest patients, and it'll all FOAMed. For more great content including our monthly grand rounds, newsletters and more go to www.ResusX.com now.
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