FOAMfrat Podcast

Podcast 192 - Salicylate Toxicity Management w/ Dr. Brookeman & Nicholas Henchal

In this episode, flight paramedic Nicholas Henchal and EMS physician Dr. Harrison Brookeman break down salicylate toxicity from the ground up. What started as a casual conversation at the crew table turns into a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood overdoses in EMS and critical care. They walk through the full spectrum of aspirin toxicity, from subtle prehospital clues to advanced hospital management. You'll hear how patients can appear relatively stable early on, why respiratory alkalosis precedes metabolic acidosis, and how the situation can spiral once the electron transport chain is disrupted. The conversation also delves into real-world decision-making: when to suspect it, when not to intubate, how to manage ventilation if you have to, and why treatments like bicarbonate, glucose, and even dialysis play a critical role. There's also a strong discussion of the dangers of missing this diagnosis and how quickly things can go downhill if the underlying physiology isn't understood. Link to interactive Anion Gap Tool: https://claude.ai/artifacts/latest/d3b744cf-5a1b-4bb7-88bc-4f74fd97ec16 [https://claude.ai/artifacts/latest/d3b744cf-5a1b-4bb7-88bc-4f74fd97ec16] FOAMfrat.com

Podcast 191 - Sepsis Update w/ Kevin Collopy

What does sepsis management look like for EMS? Tyler and Kevin Collopy break down the current state of sepsis care, including EMS recognition, hospital sepsis bundles, fluid strategies, vasopressor use, lactate trends, and the debate around prehospital antibiotics. The conversation focuses on practical decision-making and why identifying septic shock early can change outcomes long before the patient reaches the hospital.

Podcast 190 - Intubation Triggers w/ Nicole Hooser

"GCS less than 8, intubate." We've all heard it. Many of us were taught it. In this episode of the FOAMfrat Podcast, Tyler and FOAMfrat educator Nicole Hooser examine one of the most repeated airway phrases in EMS and why it may be doing more harm than good. From the origins of the "less than 8" mindset in GCS to the real-world complexity of airway decision-making, this conversation examines what actually matters when deciding whether to take a patient's airway. They discuss: • Why a GCS of 8 is not a magic number • The math behind GCS scoring combinations and why 8 carries so much variability • Airway protection versus airway reflexes • Resuscitation before intubation • The momentum problem once an RSI has been initiated • When hesitation is appropriate • When decisive action is necessary • Flight-specific pressures and transport considerations • Sedation versus full RSI • Reversible causes of altered mental status you cannot miss Nicole shares real-world flight cases, including moments of disagreement with partners and the professional growth that follows those cases. The episode also explores how experience, bias, fear, and pattern recognition shape airway decisions. If you've ever wondered whether you truly needed to intubate a patient, this episode challenges reflexive thinking and reinforces a more deliberate approach. Guest: Nicole Hooser Listen in and weigh in on the discussion.

Podcast 189 - APRV & Volumetric CO2 w/ Joe Hylton

In this episode of the FOAMfrat Podcast, we sit down with Joe Hylton, one of the go-to ventilator educators in critical care transport, to break down APRV in a way that actually makes sense. We move beyond surface level explanations and get into how APRV really works, why it is so effective for ARDS and severe hypoxemia, and how volumetric capnography can give you real-time physiologic feedback when titrating mean airway pressure and PEEP. This is not a "set it and forget it" APRV discussion. We dig into the mechanics, the physiology, and the bedside decision making that matters in transport and critical care environments. Topics covered in this episode: • How APRV differs from conventional pressure control ventilation • Why mean airway pressure is the real driver of recruitment • Using flow curves and time constants instead of guesswork • Volumetric CO₂ vs end-tidal CO₂ and why the difference matters • Identifying optimal recruitment and overdistension in real time • How VĊO₂ trends can guide PEEP and pressure adjustments • APRV pitfalls, misconceptions, and when paralysis may still make sense • Practical APRV setup on Hamilton ventilators for transport teams If APRV has ever felt like ventilator voodoo, this episode pulls the curtain back and ties the mechanical settings to what is actually happening at the alveolar and capillary level. Joe brings deep experience from working with Hamilton Medical systems, and the discussion is framed through real-world transport and ICU decision making, including insights relevant to teams like Life Link III and other critical care programs. This episode is ideal for: • Flight paramedics and critical care transport clinicians • ICU nurses and respiratory therapists • Medical directors and educators • Anyone who wants to understand APRV beyond memorized settings 🎧 Listen, learn, and rethink how you approach lung recruitment. Subscribe for more high-yield critical care and EMS education from FOAMfrat.

Podcast 188 - Sodium Nitrite Ingestion & Methemoglobinemia w/ Dr. Brookeman

In this episode of the FOAMfrat Podcast, Dr. Harrison Brookeman joins the discussion to examine methemoglobinemia and the emerging prehospital threat of sodium nitrite ingestion. Often viewed as a rare toxicology concept, this condition is appearing more frequently and can progress rapidly with devastating consequences if it is not recognized early. The episode focuses on what matters most to EMS clinicians in the field: the physiology of methemoglobinemia, why these patients appear profoundly hypoxic despite adequate ventilation, and the classic clue: a pulse oximetry reading that remains fixed around 85 percent regardless of oxygen delivery. The conversation also addresses iatrogenic causes such as benzocaine exposure, expected mental status changes, and why oxygen alone does not correct the problem. Emphasis is placed on prehospital decision-making, including early involvement with poison control, transport destination considerations, and the importance of ensuring these patients are taken to the right facility the first time. This episode is intended to sharpen recognition, improve pattern awareness, and prepare providers for a call that does not follow typical respiratory failure patterns.