WhiteBoard Medicine - Emergency And Critical Care

#268 Frank Starling Curve and Cardiac Output - Cardiac Physiology Masterclass

The Frank-Starling curve is one of the most important concepts in cardiac physiology—and one of the most clinically useful in critical care. In this episode, we break down the Frank-Starling relationship and connect it directly to cardiac output, so you can understand how preload affects stroke volume and how this translates to real bedside decision-making. We cover: * What the Frank-Starling curve represents * How preload affects stroke volume and cardiac output * The relationship between venous return, ventricular stretch, and contractility * How to identify the steep vs plateau portions of the curve * What fluid responsiveness actually means * Clinical applications in shock, heart failure, and critical illness Whether you’re managing hypotension, shock, or complex hemodynamics, this episode provides a clear framework to understand preload responsiveness and optimize perfusion in real time. 🎥 Watch the full video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEWGl7OGKaM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEWGl7OGKaM] 📚 Download the full study guide + access our complete emergency critical care curriculum: https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine [https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine] Our Patreon includes: • Study guides for every video • Mini-courses (ventilation, shock, RRT & more) • Practice questions • Ad-free videos • A structured ICU curriculum Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical decisions should be made by licensed healthcare professionals using their clinical judgment, institutional protocols, and current evidence. Whiteboard Medicine assumes no responsibility for clinical outcomes.

#267 AutoPEEP and I:E Ratio Explained - Mastering Mechanical Ventilation

AutoPEEP is one of the most important—and most commonly missed—problems in mechanically ventilated patients. In this episode, we break down AutoPEEP and the I:E ratio in a clear, practical way so you can understand how they impact ventilation, gas exchange, and patient outcomes in the ICU and emergency department. We cover: * What AutoPEEP is and why it occurs * How the I:E ratio contributes to breath stacking * The relationship between expiratory time, airflow, and trapped gas * How to recognize AutoPEEP on ventilator waveforms * How to adjust the I:E ratio to prevent and treat AutoPEEP * Clinical scenarios including COPD, asthma, and ARDS Whether you’re managing obstructive lung disease or troubleshooting a ventilated patient with rising pressures, this episode gives you a practical framework to recognize and fix AutoPEEP at the bedside. 🎥 Watch the full video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5npK_gDbw5g [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5npK_gDbw5g] 📚 Download the full study guide + access our complete emergency critical care curriculum: https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine [https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine] Our Patreon includes: • Study guides for every video • Mini-courses (ventilation, shock, RRT & more) • Practice questions • Ad-free videos • A structured ICU curriculum Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical decisions should be made by licensed healthcare professionals using their clinical judgment, institutional protocols, and current evidence. Whiteboard Medicine assumes no responsibility for clinical outcomes.

#266 Volume Control vs Pressure Control - Settings, Scalars, and Clinical Application Explained

Volume control or pressure control—how do you actually choose the right ventilator mode in real clinical practice? In this episode, we break down volume control and pressure control ventilation step-by-step, focusing on settings, scalars, and how to apply both modes at the bedside in the ICU and emergency department. We cover: * What you set vs what is guaranteed in volume vs pressure control * Key ventilator settings including tidal volume, inspiratory pressure, flow, and PEEP * How to interpret scalars and waveforms in each mode * How compliance and resistance affect pressure and volume delivery * Clinical scenarios where volume control or pressure control is preferred * Common pitfalls in ventilator management Whether you’re managing ARDS, COPD, asthma, or undifferentiated respiratory failure, this episode gives you a practical framework to choose the right mode and interpret what the ventilator is telling you in real time. 🎥 Watch the full video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWAWN1Hy49U [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWAWN1Hy49U] 📚 Download the full study guide + access our complete emergency critical care curriculum: https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine [https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine] Our Patreon includes: • Study guides for every video • Mini-courses (ventilation, shock, RRT & more) • Practice questions • Ad-free videos • A structured ICU curriculum Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical decisions should be made by licensed healthcare professionals using their clinical judgment, institutional protocols, and current evidence. Whiteboard Medicine assumes no responsibility for clinical outcomes.

#265 West Zones of the Lung Explained - Perfusion, Ventilation & Clinical Significance

West zones of the lung are fundamental to understanding how ventilation and perfusion interact in both normal physiology and critical illness. In this episode, we break down the West zones (Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3) in a simple, clinically relevant way so you can understand how blood flow is distributed throughout the lung—and why it matters at the bedside. We cover: * The physiology behind the West zones of the lung * How alveolar, arterial, and venous pressures interact * Differences between Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3 * How position, ventilation, and hemodynamics affect perfusion * Clinical implications in mechanical ventilation, shock, and critical care * Common pitfalls and misconceptions Whether you’re managing ventilated patients, evaluating hypoxemia, or thinking through V/Q mismatch, this episode provides a clear framework to apply lung physiology in real clinical scenarios. 🎥 Watch the full video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN91NR1UrCQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN91NR1UrCQ] 📚 Download the full study guide + access our complete emergency critical care curriculum: https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine [https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine] Our Patreon includes: • Study guides for every video • Mini-courses (ventilation, shock, RRT & more) • Practice questions • Ad-free videos • A structured ICU curriculum Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical decisions should be made by licensed healthcare professionals using their clinical judgment, institutional protocols, and current evidence. Whiteboard Medicine assumes no responsibility for clinical outcomes.

#264 ABG, VBG, and Comparison Explained: Complete Breakdown + Clinical Comparison

Arterial blood gas (ABG) or venous blood gas (VBG)—what’s the difference, and when should you actually use each? In this episode, we walk through a complete breakdown of ABG and VBG, followed by a direct clinical comparison so you can confidently decide which test to use at the bedside. We cover: * What an ABG measures and how to interpret it * What a VBG tells you and how it differs * Key differences in pH, CO₂, lactate, and oxygenation * The accuracy and limitations of VBG compared to ABG * When a VBG is sufficient—and when an ABG is essential * Common pitfalls in blood gas interpretation Whether you’re evaluating respiratory failure, metabolic disturbances, or critically ill patients, this episode provides a clear, practical framework for blood gas interpretation in emergency and critical care. 🎥 Watch the full video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wzu4zi19jI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wzu4zi19jI] 📚 Download the full study guide + access our complete emergency critical care curriculum: https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine [https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine] Our Patreon includes: • Study guides for every video • Mini-courses (ventilation, shock, RRT & more) • Practice questions • Ad-free videos • A structured ICU curriculum Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical decisions should be made by licensed healthcare professionals using their clinical judgment, institutional protocols, and current evidence. Whiteboard Medicine assumes no responsibility for clinical outcomes.