Critical Care Reviews Podcast

Rob Mac Sweeney discusses the Tigris Trial with chief investigator John Kellum. Tigris investigated the efficacy of polymyxin B haemoadsorption in endotoxic septic shock. It was published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine in March, 2026.

Rob Mac Sweeney discusses the ACIOS study with Tim Baker, the study lead. ACIOS is a point prevalence study describing the burden of critical illness in Africa. It was published in the Lancet in March, 2025.

Rob Mac Sweeney discusses the IVIO trial with investigators Lars Wiuff Andersen and Mikael Fink Valentine from Aarhus, Denmark. The IVIO trial compared intraosseous with intravenous vascular access in adult patients suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. It was presented at the 2024 European Resuscitation Council congress in Athens and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Rob Mac Sweeney discusses the PARAMEDIC 3 trial with it's investigators Keith Couple and Ranjit Lall from the University of Warwick, England. PARAMEDIC 3 compared intravenous with intraosseous vascular access in adult patients suffering cardiac arrest and requiring drug administration during ongoing resuscitation. It was presented at the European Resuscitation Council meeting in Athens on October 31st and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Rob Mac Sweeney chats with Jessica Spence about the B-FREE trial, investigating benzodiazepine-free anaesthesia for the prevention of delirium in cardiac surgery

Bala Venkatesh (Brisbane) hosts a panel discussion entitled "Beyond Platform Trials" at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2023. The panellists include Bronagh Blackwood (Belfast), Susan Rowell (Chicago), Fernando Zampieri (Edmonton), Marion Campbell (Aberdeen), David Harrison (London), Roger Lewis (Los Angeles), Derek Angus (Pittsburgh) & Kathy Rowan (London).

Kathy Rowan (London) hosts a fascinating panel discussion on causality at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2023. The panellists include Bronwen Connolly (Belfast), Ewan Goligher (Toronto), Flavia Machado (Sao Paulo), Kath Maitland (Kalifi), John Norrie (Edinburgh), Victoria Cornelius (London), Andrew Althouse (Pittsburgh) and Chris Seymour (Pittsburgh).

Dr Lisa Higgins (Melbourne) presents the long term outcomes of the REMAP-CAP domains at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2023. Prof Howard Bauchner (Boston) delivers an editorial. Prof Christopher Seymour (Pittsburgh) chairs the session.

Nina Christine Andersen-Ranberg presents the AID-ICU trial, investigating haloperidol for the management of delirium in the ICU. Danny McAuley delivers an editorial. Anders Perner joins the discussion and the session is chaired by Paul Mouncey.

Prof Flavia Machado (Sao Paulo) delivers the John Hinds Lecture at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2023, describing the story of BRICNET, the Brazilian Critical Care Trials Group. The session commences with Dr Chris Nutt remembering our friend, Dr John Hinds.

You're listening to the audio version of the PROCOAG trial presentation from the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2023. The PROCOAG trial investigated the efficacy and safety of early administration of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate in trauma patients at risk of massive transfusion. The trial is presented by Pierre Bouzat from Grenoble. Susan Rowell from Chicago, delivers the editorial. The session is chaired by Chris Seymour (Pittsburgh). PROCOAG was published in JAMA in March 2023.

You're listening to the audio version of the TEAM trial presentation from the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2023. The TEAM trial investigated early active mobilisation in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients. The trial is presented by Carol Hodgson from Melbourne. Darren Taichman from Philadelphia, delivers the editorial. The session is chaired by Paul Mouncey (Pittsburgh).

Matthew Semler (Nashville, USA) presents the PILOT trial at the Critical care Reviews Meeting 2023, in Titanic Belfast. The PILOT trial compared low, intermediate and high oxygenation targets in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients.  Kath Maitland from Kigali, Kenya, delivers an independent editorial. The session is chaired by Chris Seymour from  Pittsburgh, USA. PILOT was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on November 10th, 2022.

Dr Francois Lamontagne joins Rob Mac Sweeney to discuss the harmonised REMAP-CAP / LOVIT-COVID vitamin C trial. The trial was presented at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine annual congress and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Mark Peters and Doug Gould (both London) present the results of the OXY-PICU trial, comparing conservative with liberal oxygenation targets (SpO2 88-92% vs >94%) in critically ill children receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. Luregn Schlapbach (Zurich) delivers an independent editorial. They are joined by Victoria Cornelius (London), Bronagh Blackwood (Belfast), & Matthew Semler (Nashville) for a panel discussion. The session is chaired by Howard Bauchner (Boston).

Scott Berry (Austin) and Danny McAuley (Belfast) join Rob Mac Sweeney to discuss the results of the statin domain of the REMAP-CAP trial, investigating 80mg once daily of simvastatin in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Jan Jansen (Birmingham, USA) & Marion Campbell (Aberdeen) present the results of the UK-REBOA trial, investigating the use of REBOA in trauma patients with severe non-compressible torso haemorrhage. The editorial is delivered by John Holcomb (also from Birmingham, USA) and the session is chaired by Catriona Kelly from Dublin. The panel discussing the trial are Diana Cimpoesu (Ilsa, Romania), Caroline Leech (Coventry), Stephen Bernard (Melbourne) and Roger Lewis (Los Angeles).

Profs Nikki Curry (Oxford) and Karim Brohi (London) present the results of the CRYOSTAT-2 trial, evaluated early & empiric high-dose cryoprecipitate in patients with major traumatic haemorrhage. The editorial is delivered by Susan Rowell (Chicago) and the session is chaired by Phil Gillen from Belfast. The panel discussing the trial are Russell Gruen (Canberra), Caroline Leech (Coventry), John Holcomb (Birmingham, USA), Andrew Althouse (Pittsburgh) and co-investigator Simon Stanworth from Oxford.

Prof Ivor Douglas (Denver, USA) presents the CLOVERS trial, comparing an early restrictive fluid strategy with an early liberal fluid strategy in adult patients with sepsis-induced hypotension. Prof Fernando Zampieri (Edmonton, Canada), delivers an editorial. The session is chaired by Dr Paul Mouncey (London, England). 

Russell Gruen, Brian Burns and Stephen Bernard present the results of the PATCH-Trauma trial, investigating tranexamic acid in severe trauma. An independent editorial is delivered by Karim Brohi (London). Caroline Leech (Coventry) chairs a panel discussion consisting of Susan Rowell (Chicago), Carol Hodgson (Melbourne), John Holcomb (Birmingham, USA) and John Norrie (Edinburgh).

Glenn Eastwood presents the results of the TAME cardiac arrest trial, investigating mild hypercapnoea post cardiac arrest. He is joined by senior investigators Alistair Nichol (Dublin) and Stephen Bernard (Melbourne). An independent editorial is delivered by Lars Andersen (Aarhus). Darren Taichman (Philadelphia) chairs a panel discussion consisting of Flavia Machado (Sao paulo), Joyce Yeung (Birmingham, UK) and Andrew Althouse (Pittsburgh), as well as the other speakers.

Profs Matthew Prekker (Minneapolis) and Matthew Semler (Nashville) present the results of the DEVICE trial, comparing direct with video laryngoscopy for emergency intubation in the critically ill. Prof Ellen O'Sullivan (Dublin) delivers an editorial, followed by a panel discussion including Prof David Harrison (London), Dr Caroline Leech (Coventry), Dr Fiona Kelly (Bath) and Prof Alistair Nichol (Dublin). The session was chaired by Dr Catriona Kelly (Dublin). These results were presented at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2023, held in Titanic Belfast on June 16th. The DEVICE trial was simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Profs Giovanni Landoni and Giacomo Monti present the results of the MERCY trial, comparing bolus administration with continuous infusion of meropenem in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock. The results were presented at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2023, in Titanic Belfast. Prof Flavia Machado (Sao Paulo) delivers an editorial. The panel discussion incldues Profs Kathy Rowan (London), Victoria Cornelius (London), Ivor Douglas (Denver) and Ewan Goligher (Toronto). The session was chaired by Chris Nutt (Belfast).

John Myburgh and Ian Seppelt  (Sydney) present the results of the SuDDICU trial at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2022, in Titanic Belfast. SuDDICU investigates selective digestive decontamination in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients. Naomi Hammond (Sydney) follows with a presentation of a systematic review and meta analysis also on SDD. John Marshall (Toronto) delivers an editorial. Danny McAuley (Belfast), Bodil Steen Rasmussen (Aalborg) and Victoria Cornelius (London) join the presenters for a panel discussion. The session is chaired by Chris Seymour (Pittsburgh).

Matthew Semler presents the results of the PILOT trial, comparing low, intermediate and high oxygenation targets in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients. Paul Young delivers an editorial and Chris Nutt asks questions from the viewers. The expert panel discussion includes Victoria Cornelius, Angelique de Man, Bodil Steen Rasmussen and Gilles Capellier. The paper was simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Prof Jan Belohlavek (Prague, Czech Republic) presents the Prague Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Study at the Critical care Reviews Meeting 2022. This study investigates the efficacy of an eCPR programme in patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Dr Liz Wilcox (Toronto, Canada) follows with an editorial on the trial.

Lars Andersen (Aarhus, Denmark) presents the VAM-IHCA trial on June 15th at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2022, in Titanic Belfast. The VAM-IHCA trial investigates the combination of vasopressin and methylprednisolone in in-hospital cardiac arrest. Chris Seymour (Pittsburgh, USA) delivers an editorial after the trial presentation. The session is chaired by Catriona Kelly (Dublin, Ireland).

Nick Crombie (Birmingham, England) presents the RePHILL trial, comparing pre-hospital administration of saline with blood products in patients with trauma-related haemorrhagic shock.  Liz Wilcox (Toronto, Canada) delivers an editorial. The session is chaired by Catriona Kelly (Dublin, Ireland).

Derek Russell (Birmingham, USA) and Jon Casey (Nashville, USA) presents the results of the PREPARE II trial, investigating fluid bolus therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular collapse during emergency intubation. Anthony Gordon (London, England) delivers an editorial, which is followed by a panel discussion including Lennie Derde (Utrecht, the Netherlands), Andrew Althouse (Pittsburgh, USA), Elizabeth Wilcox (Toronto, Canada) and Lars Andersen (Aarhous, Denmark). The session is chaired by Chris Seymour from the USA. PREPARE II was simultaneously published in JAMA.

Dr Tine Sylvest Meyhoff (Copenhagen, Denmark) presents the results of the CLASSIC trial at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2022. Prof Katryn Maitland (Kalifi, Kenya) delivers an editorial, which is followed by a panel discussion including Prof David Harrison (London, England), Dr Lennie Derde (Utrecht, the Netherlands), Dr Jon Silversides (Belfast, Northern Ireland), and the chief investigator for CLASSIC, Prof Anders Perner (Copenhagen, Denmark). The session is chaired by Prof Bala Venkatesh from Brisbane, Australia.

Drs Padmanabhan Ramnarayan and  Paul Mouncey (both London) present the results of the FIRST-ABC trial, comparing high-flow nasal cannulae therapy with CPAP in acute ill children with respiratory failure, at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2022. Dr Srinivas Murthy (Vancouver) delivers an editorial, which is followed by a panel discussion including Profs Kathryn Maitland (Kalifi), John Marshall (Toronto) and Marion Campbell (Aberdeen). The session is chaired by Prof Howard Bauchner.

Rob Mac Sweeney (Belfast, Northern Ireland) hosts a panel discussion including Prof Paul Checchia (Houston, USA), Prof Wes Diddle (Washington DC, USA), Prof Ranjit Lall (Coventry, England), Prof Kathy Rowan (London, England), as well as the NITRIC trial chief investigator Luregn Schlapbach (Zurich, Switzerland) and editorialist Prof Mark Peters (London, England)

Dr Bronwen Connolly asks cheif investigator Luregn Schlapbach questions from the viewers during the livestream of the NITRIC trial results

Prof Mark Peters, from Great Ormond Street Hospital, delivers an editorial on the NITRIC trial, investigating nitric oxide during cardiac surgery for children with congenital cardiac disease. The chief investigator for the trial Assoc Prof Luregn Schlapbach replies.

Assoc Prof Luregn Schlapbach (Zurich, Switzerland) presents the results of the NITRIC trial, investigating nitric oxide during cardiac surgery for children with congenital cardiac disease.

Rob Mac Sweeney hosts a panel discussion on the results of the FIRST ABC trial, comparing HFNO with CPAP in recently extubated children. The panelists are Martha A.Q. Curley (Philadelphia), Christopher M. Horvat (Pittsburgh), Martin Kneyber (Groningen), and David Harrison (London). They are joined by Padmanabhan Ramnarayan (chief investigator), Alvin Richards-Belle (trial manager) and Adrienne Randolph (editorialist).

Chris Nutt (Belfast) asks the chief investigator of the FIRST-ABC trial Padmanabhan Ramnarayan (London) questions from the viewers during the livestream presentation of the trial results.

Adrienne Randolph (Boston) delivers an independent editorial on the FIRST-ABC (Step Down) trial, comparing high flow nasal oxygen with continuous positive airway pressure in recently extubated children.

Dr Padmanabhan Ramnarayan (London) and Mr Alvin Richards-Belle (London) present the results of the FIRST-ABC (Step Down) trial, comparing high flow nasal oxygen with continuous positive airway pressure in recently extubated children.

Pär Johansson from Copenhagen joins Rob Mac Sweeney to discuss the fascinating phase II COMBAT-COVID trial, investigating prostacyclin in intubated patients with COVID-19 and severe endotheliopathy. The trial was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in November 2021.

Naomi Hammond and Simon Finfer join Rob Mac Sweeney to discuss the reaction of the critical care community to the presentation and publication of both the PLUS trial and the systematic review and meta analysis comparing balanced solutions with 0.9% saline in the critically ill.

Drs Brian Driver and Matt Prekker join Rob Mac Sweeney to address some of the questions and comments that arose following the presentation and publication of the BOUGIE trial, comparing the use of a stylet with that of a bougie in emergency intubation.

Dr Rob Mac Sweeney (Belfast, Northern Ireland) chairs a panel discussion on the results of the BOUGIE trial, comparing the use of a stylet with a bougie in 1102 patients requiring emergency intubation in either the emergency department or the ICU. The panelists are Prof Jonathan Benger (Bristol, England), Dr George Kovacs (Halifax, Canada), Dr Jean-Baptiste (Nantes, France) and Prof Sheila Myatra (Mumbai, India). They are joined by the trialists Dr Jon Casey (Nasville, USA), Dr Stacy Trent (Denver, USA), Dr Brian Driver (Minneapolis, USA) & Dr Matt Semler (Nashville, USA).

Dr Chris Nutt (Belfast, Northern Ireland) asks questions posed by viewers of the BOUGIE trial results presentation livestream. These are answered by Dr Matt Semler (Nashville, USA) and Dr Brian Driver (Minneapolis, USA). Prof Jonathan Benger (Bristol, England) also joins the discussion.

Prof Sheila Myatra (Mumbai, India) delivers an independent editorial on the BOUGIE trial, comparing the use of a stylet with a bougie in 1102 patients requiring emergency intubation in the emergency department or the ICU. Dr Matt Semler (Nashville, USA) and Dr Brian Driver (Minneapolis, USA) reply to the editorial and Prof Jonathan Benger (Bristol, England) also joins the discussion.

Dr Jon Casey (Nasville, USA), Dr Stacy Trent (Denver, USA) and Dr Brian Driver (Minneapolis, USA) present the results of the BOUGIE trial at a Critical Care Reviews Trial Results Livestream, on December 8th, 2021. The BOUGIE trial compared the use of a stylet with a bougie in 1102 patients requiring emergency intubation in the emergency department or the ICU.

Theresa Olasveengen (Oslo, Norway), Victoria Cornelius (London, England) and Christopher Seymour (Pittsburgh, USA) join trialists Mikael Fink Vallentin and Lars Andersen (Aarhus, Denmark), as well as editorialist Gavin Perkins (Coventry, England), to discuss the COCA trial.

Dr Chris Nutt asks Dr Mikael Fink Vallentin and Lars Andersen questions form the viewers, during the livestream presentation of the COCA trial results. The COCA trial investigates calcium for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and was presented at a Critical Care Reviews Trial Results Presentation Livestream on November 30th, 2021, with a simultaneous publication in JAMA.