Cyanide, CO, & Methemoglobinemia in Anesthesia with Chloe Gomez

Pediatric & Obstetric Anesthesia Made Easy | High-Yield CRNA, SRNA & NBCRNA NCE Review

Pediatric and obstetric anesthesia can feel overwhelming when you're first starting clinical - but they don't have to be. In this episode of My Favorite Learners, we simplify two of the most intimidating anesthesia rotations by focusing on physiology first. Instead of memorizing countless facts and syndromes, you'll learn why pediatric and obstetric patients get into trouble and how that changes your anesthetic management. Whether you're preparing for your first pediatric or OB clinical rotation, studying for the NBCRNA NCE, or looking for a high-yield anesthesia physiology review, this episode will give you a strong clinical foundation. ✅ Pediatric airway anatomy and why even 1 mm of airway edema matters ✅ Why infants desaturate so quickly (oxygen consumption & functional residual capacity) ✅ Pediatric cardiac physiology and why hypoxemia should be your first consideration when an infant becomes bradycardic ✅ Pediatric pharmacology pearls including MAC changes, neonatal drug metabolism, protein binding, and common OR cases ✅ Pregnancy physiology and how it changes the airway, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and pharmacologic responses to anesthesia ✅ Why pregnancy dramatically changes nearly every organ system we care about as anesthesia providers ✅ Labor epidurals, spinal anesthesia, combined spinal-epidurals (CSEs), and the physiology behind spinal hypotension ✅ Why phenylephrine is the current first-line vasopressor for spinal-induced hypotension during cesarean delivery ✅ Obstetric emergencies including high spinal, local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), and postpartum hemorrhage ✅ Classic NBCRNA board pearls and clinical questions you're likely to hear from preceptors • Don't memorize every syndrome - understand the physiology, and the anesthetic management becomes much easier. • Pediatric bradycardia should immediately make you evaluate oxygenation and ventilation. • Pregnancy produces profound physiologic changes that influence every anesthetic plan. • Many institutions use early video laryngoscopy for high-risk obstetric airways, but airway management should always follow your institution's protocols and clinical judgment. • The goal isn't to memorize drug doses - it's to understand why patients respond the way they do. If you're an SRNA, CRNA student, anesthesia resident, or practicing anesthesia provider, this episode will help you connect physiology, pharmacology, and clinical anesthesia in a way that's easy to remember on boards and in the operating room. 🎙️ My Favorite Learners is a podcast designed to simplify anesthesia education through physiology, pharmacology, clinical stories, board pearls, and real-world anesthesia practice. Keywords: CRNA, SRNA, Nurse Anesthesia, NBCRNA, NCE, Pediatric Anesthesia, Obstetric Anesthesia, OB Anesthesia, Pediatric Airway, Labor Epidural, Cesarean Section, C-Section Anesthesia, Spinal Anesthesia, Epidural, Combined Spinal Epidural (CSE), Pediatric Pharmacology, Pregnancy Physiology, Anesthesia Physiology, Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST), Postpartum Hemorrhage, Phenylephrine, Airway Management, Board Review

New(er) to the crew: Remimazolam, Sugammadex, & Novel Opioids

Today we’re diving into the future of anesthesia pharmacology with three major topics changing perioperative practice: Remimazolam, Sugammadex, and Novel Opioids. These medications were designed to improve what we care about most—faster recovery, safer profiles, more predictable pharmacokinetics, and better patient outcomes. In this episode, we break down: ✔️ Remimazolam – the ultra-short acting benzodiazepine with esterase metabolism, rapid recovery, and potential hemodynamic advantages over propofol ✔️ Sugammadex – the game-changing reversal agent for rocuronium and vecuronium, including dosing, mechanisms, risks, and board pearls ✔️ Novel Opioids – including biased agonists like oliceridine, and the ongoing search for analgesia with fewer side effects We also cover: 🎯 High-yield NBCRNA/NCE pharmacology points 🎯 Clinical pros and cons of each drug 🎯 Real-world barriers like cost, adoption, and safety concerns 🎯 How to think like an anesthesia provider—not just memorize drugs Whether you’re an SRNA, CRNA, resident, or anesthesia nerd who loves pharmacology, this episode will help you connect the science to clinical practice.

Serotonin Syndrome, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome & Malignant Hyperthermia: How to Tell Them Apart

Three life-threatening syndromes. Similar presentations. Very different causes and treatments. In this episode, Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA, breaks down how to quickly differentiate Serotonin Syndrome, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), and Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) - a must-know topic for anesthesia learners and board prep. We cover: ✔️ Key clinical signs and classic presentations ✔️ Triggering medications and anesthetic agents ✔️ Rigidity vs clonus vs hyperreflexia ✔️ Why ETCO₂ matters in MH ✔️ Treatment plans: cyproheptadine, dantrolene, bromocriptine, supportive care ✔️ High-yield NBCRNA/NCE test pearls ✔️ Real-world perioperative implications If you’ve ever mixed these up, this episode will help you organize them fast and remember what matters most when seconds count. 🎧 Perfect for SRNAs, CRNAs, and anyone studying advanced pharmacology.

Inside CRNA Admissions: What the Committee Really Looks For

What makes a CRNA school applicant stand out—and what mistakes can hurt your chances before the interview even begins? In this special panel episode of My Favorite Learners, I sit down with the leadership of the UC Davis Nurse Anesthesia Program admissions team: Dr. Bryan Tune, Dr. Becky Ashlock, Dr. Jake Sareerak, and Dr. Terence Burrows. Together, we discuss what admissions committees value most, common pitfalls applicants make, and how future SRNAs can position themselves for success. If CRNA school is in your future, this is the insider conversation you’ve been waiting for.

Cyanide, CO, & Methemoglobinemia in Anesthesia with Chloe Gomez

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, we break down three high-stakes anesthesia emergencies that every provider must recognize quickly: cyanide toxicity, carbon monoxide poisoning, and methemoglobinemia. You’ll learn how to differentiate these conditions in real time when oxygenation doesn’t match the clinical picture, why standard monitors can be misleading, and how to choose the correct treatment under pressure. We cover key mechanisms, classic board-style clues, and the pharmacology behind life-saving antidotes - so you can think fast, act confidently, and be ready for both the OR and the NCE.