#87 The Clot Thickens - Pulmonary Embolism Update with The Curbsiders
On this week's episode, Critical Care Time gets Curbsided! Cyrus and Nick are hosted by Drs. Matthew Watto and Paul Williams of The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast where they unpack the 2026 AHA/ACC multisociety pulmonary embolism guidelines and how they may effect your practice. During the course of our discussion, we unpack the new A–E clinical categories, revisit cryptic shock in the setting of PE, and review diagnostic testing, anticoagulation choices, and of course - when to call in the PE response team. Of course we also talk treatment options and delve into post-acute management of PE and what the guidelines say about CTED, etc. New categories, evolving evidence, and plenty of bedside perspective: this crossover connects critical care decisions with the questions that follow patients into clinic.
#86 The Other Side of the Bed: Surviving the ICU and Beyond
Julie Corley expected to be home by lunchtime. Instead, a routine left-heart cath became a five-month ICU stay involving cardiac arrest, ECMO, terrifying delirium, and a recovery that would reshape her family’s life.
On this episode of Critical Care Time, Cyrus and Nick welcome Julie, her husband Chris, and Dr. Jess Bunin—an intensivist, psychiatrist, and three-time cancer survivor—to explore critical illness from the other side of the bed. Together, they unpack the hidden burden on caregivers, the gap between surviving and healing, and why even well-intended encouragement can miss the mark. Their stories reveal how our words, assumptions, and small acts of compassion can profoundly change a patient’s experience.
This is an honest, raw & moving conversation for everyone who cares for the critically ill. Listen or watch, share it with others, and leave a five-star review along with a comment!
#85 Brain Death w/ Dr Sean Marinelli
In this episode of Critical Care Time, neurointensivist Dr. Sean Marinelli joins Nick & Cyrus to tackle brain death/death by neurologic criteria. We break down the prerequisites, neurologic exam, apnea testing, ancillary studies, and the challenging situations where things get complicated—including confounders, ECMO, and families struggling to understand how someone with a beating heart can have died.
This is essential knowledge for anyone caring for critically ill patients. Listen or watch now, and if you enjoy the episode, subscribe, leave us a five star review, and drop a comment with your thoughts!
#84 Acid-Base w/ Dr Sara Crager
Returning guest Dr. Sara Crager joins us again on Critical Care Time, this time to tackle one of the most important, and most commonly overcomplicated, topics in critical care: acid–base physiology. Rather than treating acid–base as a collection of equations and compensation formulas, Sara walks us through her practical State → Process → Story framework for rapidly interpreting blood gases and electrolytes at the bedside. We discuss how to distinguish acidemia from acidosis, interpret CO₂ in the context of bicarbonate, use the anion gap and strong ion difference to uncover mixed metabolic disorders, recognize the importance of chloride and albumin, and understand why a “normal” pH—or a “normal” CO₂—may be anything but normal. Along the way, we work through several real-world ICU cases involving chronic hypercapnia, DKA, vomiting, septic shock, renal failure, saline-induced hyperchloremia, and hypoalbuminemia. The goal isn’t more acid–base math. It’s a better mental model and a faster way to understand what your patient’s numbers are actually telling you.
#83 B2B Pulse Oximetry
On this week’s episode of Critical Care Time we had back to the basics again, this time with a focus on the ubiquitous Pulse Oximeter! We will talk all things Pulse Ox from how it generates values, how reliable those values are, what factors can confound your pulse ox and how best to use this powerful - yet imperfect - tool to deliver the best care possible for your patients. Check it out and let us know what you think!
#82 Intro to Neurocritical Care w/ Dr Casey Albin
We are proud to bring you guys our first of several episodes on Neurocritical Care! On this episode - our introductory show - we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Casey Albin a neurologist & neurointensivist who introduces the topic of neurocritical care with a special focus on basic tenets of stroke management. What type of imaging should you order? What do you do with anticoagulation? Who get's seizure prophylaxis? We cover all this and more with Dr. Albin. Please take a listen and let us know what you think and what else you want to hear from us!
#81 Awake Intubation
Welcome back to another airway episode! On this episode, Cyrus and Nick are joined by Dr. Jarrod Mosier to discuss advanced concepts of airway management to include a practical and effective approach to awake intubation. We will discuss who is an appropriate candidate for this technique, why and when it should be implemented and cover some important pitfalls and pearls. We hope you guys enjoy this episode and that it motivates you to check out the Difficult Airway Course: Critical Care! If you are interested, make sure you use our discount code CCTIME26 to get $200 off the November course in San Diego!
#80 B2B Arterial Lines
Welcome to Season 4 of Critical Care Time! We are excited to be back for another year of exciting content and what better way to kick things off than with a brand new series! This year we're piloting our Back to Basics series where we will do deep dives on fundamental skills, tests, tools and so much more in the ICU. First up is Back to Basics: All Things Art Lines. On this inaugural episode we discuss why arterial blood pressure monitoring is so important in the ICU, how the place these lines, how to interpret the waveforms and cover a bunch of tips and tricks that you can tuck away for your next A-Line in the ICU! Let us know what you think: Send us a message on socials, drop us a comment or reach out via email!
#79 End-of-year Mailbag
It's that time of year again where Cyrus & Nick go through all the comments and questions from the last season and try to address them for the betterment of the Critical Care Time community! This year has been our most fun yet and hopefully you guys have really enjoyed what we've done so far and are looking forward to the future! On this episode we revisit beta blockers in septic shock, selective gut decontamination, the role of hemopurification in critical illness and so many more critical care potpourri items that piqued your collective interest. Thank you guys for being the best part of Critical Care Time and keep listening for more rockstar guests, expert insights and exciting new content!
#78 V-Tach Master Class with Dr. Sara Crager
Join us for this fun and exciting CCT episode where we are joined by the incredible Dr. Sara Crager for an all-expenses paid journey through the world of Ventricular Tachycardia! On this episode we explore the causes and pathophysiology of VT. Building upon that solid foundation, we also discuss different therapeutic approaches using a case-based format that's sure to leave a lasting impression. We hope you listen, learn and leave us a review!
And if you feel so inclined, reach out on our socials and let us know what you think!
#77 Zorses & Hebras Part II
Ask and you shall receive! This week Nick & Cyrus bring back Zorses & Hebras from Season 1 - this time focusing on allergy and allergy-related concepts. Give it a listen and let us know what you think! Huge thanks to Integration Health for sponsoring this episode!
#76 ICU Sustainability
This week on Critical Care Time we take a slight departure from our usual content and turn an eye towards sustainability in the ICU. What low-hanging fruit exists in your ICU in the fight against medical waste? Why reach for a nebulizer when HFAs are so much more convenient? We had a great chat with Dr. Stephanie Maximos and Dr. Hari Shankar where we unpack this emerging concept and discuss options to take great care of your patients AND be mindful of waste and excess in your ICU! Listen, learn and let us know what you think!!
#75 The APRV Debate
On this week’s episode, Cyrus and Nick host a spirited discussion with Drs. Rory Spiegel and Max Hockstein where we debate the merits of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV). What's the rationale for this? When is it appropriate? IS it appropriate… or is it witchcraft? Is it physiologically foolish or a perfectly logical option for hypoxemic respiratory failure? Good for all comer, good for a subset or does it belong with the vials of succinylcholine and DL blades? We may not have all the answers but on this episode we do our best to explore this ventilator mode and help you decide whether the juice is worth the squeeze! Check us out and let us know YOUR feelings while leaving us a review!
#74 Lung Transplantion in the ICU
In this episode of Critical Care Time, we tackle one of the most complex and high-stakes corners of critical care: the lung transplant patient in the ICU. From evaluating candidates at the edge of respiratory failure to managing the crashing post-transplant patient, we break down the practical bedside decisions that matter most — including bridge strategies, hemodynamics, immunosuppression, infection, rejection, and the complications that can rapidly spiral if you miss them. Whether you work in a transplant center or occasionally inherit these patients in a general ICU, this episode is built to give you a sharper framework, clearer priorities, and more confidence when the stakes are highest. As is often the case, a heavy lift like this needs some back up and we are grateful to have Dr. Lara Jones, a transplant pulmonologist and her colleague, Dr. Jason Gauthier, a thoracic surgeon on to help us with this one!
#73 Diabetic Ketoacidosis
On this week's episode of Critical Care Time, Cyrus & Nick go all-in on DKA and spend a little time talking about alcoholic and starvation ketosis too! In this jam-packed, clinically robust episode, the guys discuss the importance and pathophysiology of DKA before discussing all things treatment. After listening to this - and perusing the show notes - you'll be a DKA master! Check it out and let us know what you think. Special thanks to Integration Health and The Difficult Airway Course: Critical Care for supporting the production of this episode!
#72 ICU Toxicology
On this week, Cyrus & Nick are joined again by intensivist extraordinaire, Dr. Adam Mora, for a long overdue episode on ICU Toxicology! Together, the three of us embark on a case-based journey covering some of the more common ICU toxidromes as well as some of the more unusual, but can't-miss diagnoses. This is a bit of a longer one but it's super high-yield and very practical for anyone who is studying for their boards and/or participating in the care of the critically ill! Thanks to our tag-team of sponsors for this episode: The Difficult Airway Course: Critical Care and our newest sponsor, Integration Health!
#71 Cases in Cardiogenic Shock (LIVE from CHEST 2025)
This week we've released our first LIVE podcast from Chest 2025 where we cover cases in cardiogenic shock with our amazing panel of incredible clinicians. Nick & Cyrus moderate a discussion using a choose-your-own-adventure format, leveraging the expertise of our panelists in an hour long, fun-filled and practical discussion where we put some of our earlier CCT content to practice in some real world cases. Check out the YouTube channel or the website if you want to follow along with the slides. Please let us know how you like this!!
#70 Right Heart Failure with Dr Matt Siuba
Buckle up because on this week's episode of Critical Care Time we are treated to a master class on Right Heart Failure with world-class educator Dr. Matt Siuba. We are taking a deep dive on diagnosis, management and of course, sharing our love for the PAC! Make sure you clear your schedule and take notes for this one because as far as we are concerned, this is required listening for anyone who cares for the critically ill!