ICS Cast

The resident doctors have taken over the ICS Cast and in this episode look at the medical daily review - what should be examined, what should be checked, what questions should we be asking ourselves? Join Andrew Davidson and Devan Williams as they talk through some common approaches. The main reference for this episode is The Beginner's GuideTo Intensive Care Chapter 2 by Dr Shondipon Laha, published by Taylor & Francis.

The residents have taken over! In the first of a number of episodes created by resident doctors aimed at people working on the critical care unit for the first time Andrew Davidson and Joshua Chambers discuss arterial lines - what they're for, how to use them, and what pitfalls to be aware of. The main reference for the episode is Deranged Physiology: https://derangedphysiology.com/main/cicm-primary-exam/cardiovascular-system/Chapter-753/indications-and-contraindications-arterial-line-insertion

Recorded at the ICS State of the Art 2025 meeting in Birmingham, Jonny sits down with two of the UK's leading voices in deceased organ donation: Professor Dan Harvey and Dr Ben Ivory. This is the conversation every intensivist has to get right, and the one most of us still feel underprepared for. Dan and Ben walk through how we counsel families at the end of life, how we keep the donation conversation compassionate rather than confrontational, and how we handle the controversies that still sit just under the surface of UK practice. They talk about what good documentation actually looks like when the notes are later read by a family, a coroner or a complaint investigator; who to pull into the room early; SNODs, CLODs, chaplaincy, senior colleagues and how that support changes both the quality of the conversation and the risk of things going wrong afterwards. Practical, honest and grounded in the realities of the UK pathway - essential listening for us all!

Jonny Wilkinson talks with Prof. Hugh Montgomery and Kate Tantam, about the challenges and opportunities in NHS infrastructure, climate change, green spaces in hospitals, and sustainable practices to improve healthcare environments and patient outcomes.

Step into the high-stakes world of cardiogenic shock in this powerful episode recorded on Day 1 of the ICS State of the Art 2025 meeting in Birmingham. In the session "From Shock to Survival: Innovations and Advances in Cardiogenic Shock Treatment", Jonny sits down with three outstanding guests: Professor Susanna Price, consultant cardiologist and intensivist at Royal Brompton Hospital and a leading expert in cardiogenic shock; Dr Nicholas Barrett from Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, who brought deep expertise in advanced cardiac support and critical care; and the truly inspirational Lizzi Jordan MBE, Paralympic gold medal cyclist and remarkable survivor of life-threatening sepsis and cardiogenic shock. Susanna and Nicholas shared cutting-edge clinical insights on recognition, haemodynamics, mechanical support, and the latest innovations in treatment, while Lizzi delivered a raw, moving account of multiple organ failure, induced coma, and her incredible fight back to elite sporting success despite losing her sight. This conversation perfectly blends world-class medical expertise with an extraordinary patient perspective — emotional, practical, hopeful, and deeply human - an unmissable session from SOA25.

Get ready for a high-octane deep dive into the world of venous congestion and POCUS in this dynamic episode from the ICS State of the Art 2025 meeting in Birmingham. Jonny was joined by the brilliant trio of Dr Ross Prager, Dr Sekina Bakare, and Dr Segun Olusanya for a candid and entertaining discussion on mastering ultrasound in critical care. We explore how deep you really need to go to achieve accreditation, why POCUS training can feel like stepping into a Mixed Martial Arts ring, and the practical realities of integrating these skills into daily practice. Ross breaks down the crucial role of the liver and right heart in venous congestion assessment, while Sekina shares insightful reflections on the transition from resident to consultant. Packed with practical wisdom, training pathway realities, and plenty of relatable moments, this conversation is essential listening for anyone looking to level up their bedside ultrasound game.

Ever wondered what it really takes to pull off the UK's biggest critical care conference? In this behind-the-scenes episode, I sit down with the legend himself — Dr Parjam (PJ) Zolfaghari, past Programme Director of the ICS State of the Art 2025 meeting in Birmingham. From sleepless nights and last-minute speaker dropouts to epic programme clashes, heated controversies, and the sheer chaos of herding hundreds of intensivists into one unforgettable event, PJ spills all the gory (and hilarious) details. We dive into the triumphs, the near-disasters, and the sheer madness of creating a meeting that's still delivering incredible podcast content months later! If you've ever organised anything big — or just love a good war story from the trenches of medical conference planning — this one is packed with laughs, lessons, and proper insight. Pure gold for anyone curious about what goes on behind the curtain of #SOA25.

Dive into the world of cutting-edge critical care with this high-energy episode recorded live at the ICS State of the Art meeting in Birmingham last year! Jonny Wilkinson was joined by the brilliant ORACLE team—Dr Manoj Wickramsinghe, Dr Max Ridley, and Dr James Morgan—for a dynamic conversation on revolutionising the management of the critically ill through multi-modal imaging. The group is dedicated to free, clear, and highly interactive online learning, and they're on a mission to empower the intensive care community with this invaluable skillset. Together we explored how to seamlessly integrate bedside echocardiography, CT, and beyond into real-time decision-making. If you want to sharpen your imaging game, boost your confidence at the bedside, and deliver better care to your sickest patients, this episode is an absolute must-listen.

Jonny talks to Dr Justin Kirk-Bayley, Dr Ross Prager, and Dr Ashley Miller all about the myths behind IV fluid resuscitation, what cardiac output really is and where we go so wrong! This episode delves into some advanced physiology and how we can apply it to resuscitating our septic patients.

Meningitis has been in the news in recent weeks with an unprecedented cluster of infections and, sadly, several deaths have taken place in the Kent area. In this timely podcast episode, Dr Jonny Wilkinson is joined by Intensivists Dr Martin Beed, Dr Peter Brindley (authors of the new primer on infectious meningitis and encephalitis in the Journal of the Intensive Care Society), and Dr Andrew Conway-Morris. They explore the UK government's targeted Men-B vaccination programme for university students and affected schools, the critical importance of early clinical suspicion and prompt antibiotic administration, transmission risks in nightclubs and social settings (including behaviours like vaping), and lessons from past UK and global outbreaks. Packed with actionable clinical guidance and real-world takeaways, this episode is essential listening for healthcare professionals, students, parents, and anyone wanting to understand how to spot, treat, and prevent this devastating disease.