With all the discussion surrounding antibody production after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, let’s talk about the structure of an antibody. An antibody (immunoglobulin, or Ig) is a protein synthesized by plasma B cells targeting unique...

Conventional vaccines typically involve growing a virus in various cell lines, injecting a part of the virus into the host, and relying on the host to mount an immunologic response (ie, create antibodies and...

As a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and intensivist, I routinely place large central lines for resuscitation, vasoactive/inotrope administration, and to facilitate additional monitoring (ie, Swan Ganz catheter). Over the years, I've heard "MAC", "sheath introducer", "Cordis",...

I’m in a constant pursuit to learn more about everything! Although cardiothoracic anesthesiology and critical care are my subspecialties, I am interested in all organ systems and their interplay to maintain systemic homeostasis. Consequently, my ideas for...

Ever since finishing my fellowships, I wanted to create a free reference sheet (front and back) containing "high yield" information in the areas of critical care and perioperative medicine. I feel I'm well suited...

Pharmacokinetic models describe the rate of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of a particular drug. This can vary significantly based on properties of the drug itself, varying levels of metabolism in the context of...

2019 was the bookend to my formal medical training as I completed my fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology, took my first vacation in over a decade, and started my job as an attending back home...

Understanding mechanical ventilation is a fundamental part of intensive care and perioperative medicine. Here's an overview of the basics of mechanical ventilation. Keep in mind that clinically, there are many more things to consider,...