Welcome to the Atomic Anesthesia podcast hosted by CRNA professor Dr. Rhea Temmermand and Co-Founder Sachi Lord. On this show, you'll hear clear, clinically grounded discussions designed for nurse anesthesia residents and CRNAs who want to feel more confident in complex pharmacology, physiology, and real-world anesthesia decision-making.

Want more content like this? Become a member of our learning platform: http://atomicanesthesia.com

In this episode:

• The three mechanism buckets every OR vasodilator falls into — nitric oxide donors, calcium channel blockers, alpha antagonists — and why the bucket tells you the side effect profile before you ever look up the drug
• The full NO → cGMP → PKG → smooth muscle relaxation cascade behind nitroglycerin and nitroprusside, and why one drops preload while the other balanced-dilates
• Cyanide toxicity and coronary steal with nitroprusside — when to use it, when to cap it, and when to pick something else
• Clevidipine vs nicardipine vs hydralazine — which drug fits which case, and why hydralazine is falling out of favor for tight OR control
• Controlled hypotension for neuro cases, afterload management in cardiac surgery, and hypertensive emergencies including aortic dissection and pheochromocytoma

💜 FREE DOWNLOADS: Grab your copy of customized study plans & worksheets.

• GPCR Cheat Sheet — The G-protein coupled receptor mechanisms behind the alpha antagonists, beta blockers, and signaling pathways that show up in every OR vasodilator conversation.
• SEE/NCE Study Plan — A structured plan to help you prepare for the SEE and NCE without burning out — hypertension treatment is a high-yield topic.
• Non-Opioid Pharmacology Cheat Sheet — Propofol, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, and the rest of the non-opioid sedation toolkit on one page.

💜 CONNECT: 📥 Email questions, comments or topic suggestions to Dr. Temmermand at hello@atomicanesthesia.com, follow us on social media, and sign up for our newsletter.

💜 PARTNERS: The Incomologists®

https://theincomologists.com/

You work hard caring for others—let us take care of you. Whether you're a W-2 employee or transitioning to a 1099 role, we understand the unique challenges healthcare professionals face, from insurance coverage to financial planning. That's where we step in.

Like you, we are a team of healthcare providers who understand your needs and help you find tailored insurance plans and financial strategies without the hassle or pressure. And we're a partner you can rely on, today and in the future.

We evaluate all available options and resources in the market to protect our clients, so contact us, and we'll get started! — Jake Bevilacqua, CRNA (jake@theincomologists.com)

Welcome to the Atomic Anesthesia podcast hosted by CRNA professor Dr. Rhea Temmermand and Co-Founder Sachi Lord. On this show, you'll hear clear, clinically grounded discussions designed for nurse anesthesia residents and CRNAs who want to feel more confident in complex pharmacology, physiology, and real-world anesthesia decision-making.

Want more content like this? Become a member of our learning platform: http://atomicanesthesia.com

In this episode:

• Exactly how PONV happens in the brain, no vague "vomiting center" hand waving
• All 5 real mechanisms behind how dexamethasone actually stops nausea and vomiting
• The practical dosing, timing, and combination strategy that gets the best PONV prevention

References:

• Chu CC, Hsing CH, Shieh JP, Chien CC, Ho CM, Wang JJ. The cellular mechanisms of the antiemetic action of dexamethasone and related glucocorticoids against vomiting. Eur J Pharmacol. 2014;722:48-54.
• Horn CC, Wallisch WJ, Homanics GE, Williams JP. Pathophysiological and neurochemical mechanisms of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Eur J Pharmacol. 2014;722:55-66.
• Ho CM, Wu HL, Ho ST, Wang JJ. Dexamethasone prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting: benefit versus risk. Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan. 2011;49(3):100-104.

💜 FREE DOWNLOADS: Grab your copy of customized study plans & worksheets.

• SEE/NCE Study Plan — a structured, week-by-week plan to pass your boards
• Non-Opioid Pharmacology Cheat Sheet — every non-opioid analgesic you need to know, one page
• GPCR Cheat Sheet — G-protein coupled receptors decoded for anesthesia

💜 CONNECT: 📥 Email questions, comments or topic suggestions to Rhea or Sachi at hello@atomicanesthesia.com, follow us on social media, and sign up for our newsletter.

Mentioned in this episode:

💜 PARTNERS: The Incomologists®

https://theincomologists.com/ You work hard caring for others—let us take care of you. Whether you’re a W-2 employee or transitioning to a 1099 role, we understand the unique challenges healthcare professionals face, from insurance coverage to financial planning. That’s where we step in. Like you, we are a team of healthcare providers who understand your needs and help you find tailored insurance plans and financial strategies without the hassle or pressure. And we’re a partner you can rely on, today and in the future. We evaluate all available options and resources in the market to protect our clients, so contact us, and we’ll get started! - Jake Bevilacqua, CRNA (jake@theincomologists.com)

Welcome to the Atomic Anesthesia podcast hosted by CRNA professor Dr. Rhea Temmermand and Co-Founder Sachi Lord. On this show, you'll hear clear, clinically grounded discussions designed for nurse anesthesia residents and CRNAs who want to feel more confident in complex pharmacology, physiology, and real-world anesthesia decision-making.

Want more content like this? Become a member of our learning platform: http://atomicanesthesia.com

In this episode:

• The three decisions that shape every airway plan: awake or asleep, noninvasive or invasive, and preserve or ablate spontaneous ventilation
• The most important fork in the algorithm, can you oxygenate or not, and how it sends you down the non-emergency pathway or the emergency pathway
• Managing the cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate crisis, including front-of-neck access and the scalpel-bougie-tube technique

💜 FREE DOWNLOADS: Grab your copy of customized study plans & worksheets.

• SEE/NCE Study Plan — a structured, week-by-week plan to pass your boards
• Non-Opioid Pharmacology Cheat Sheet — every non-opioid analgesic you need to know, one page
• GPCR Cheat Sheet — G-protein coupled receptors decoded for anesthesia

💜 CONNECT: 📥 Email questions, comments or topic suggestions to Rhea or Sachi at hello@atomicanesthesia.com, follow us on social media, and sign up for our newsletter.

Mentioned in this episode:

💜 PARTNERS: The Incomologists®

https://theincomologists.com/ You work hard caring for others—let us take care of you. Whether you’re a W-2 employee or transitioning to a 1099 role, we understand the unique challenges healthcare professionals face, from insurance coverage to financial planning. That’s where we step in. Like you, we are a team of healthcare providers who understand your needs and help you find tailored insurance plans and financial strategies without the hassle or pressure. And we’re a partner you can rely on, today and in the future. We evaluate all available options and resources in the market to protect our clients, so contact us, and we’ll get started! - Jake Bevilacqua, CRNA (jake@theincomologists.com)