Podcast

56 episodes

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Anticholinesterases For The Anaesthetically Adept

Anticholinesterases for FRCA: mechanism of action, neostigmine pharmacology, muscarinic side effects, organophosphate poisoning, and acetylcholine synthesis at the NMJ.

19 Apr 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Sugammadex For Anaesthetists

Sugammadex pharmacology for FRCA Primary: mechanism of encapsulation, dosing by depth of block, pharmacokinetics, anaphylaxis incidence, and the contraceptive interaction.

1 Apr 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Pancuronium For Anaesthetists

Pancuronium bromide: aminosteroid pharmacology, cardiovascular vagolytic effects, and a detailed comparison of Phase I and Phase II neuromuscular blockade for FRCA exam preparation.

22 Mar 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Vecuronium For Anaesthetists

Vecuronium: aminosteroid non-depolarising neuromuscular blocker. Pharmacology, dosing, kinetics, cardiovascular profile, and neuromuscular monitoring for FRCA candidates.

26 Feb 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Cisatracurium For Anaesthetists

Cisatracurium is the 1R-cis, 1'R-cis isomer of atracurium — three times as potent, histamine-free, and eliminated by Hofmann degradation independent of renal or hepatic function.

18 Feb 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Mivacurium For Anaesthetists

Mivacurium is a short-acting non-depolarising neuromuscular blocker metabolised by plasma cholinesterase. Covers isomers, context-insensitive offset, histamine release, and cholinesterase deficiency for FRCA.

1 Feb 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Oxygen for the FRCA Primary

Oxygen pharmacology for FRCA Primary: manufacture by fractional distillation, storage pressures, mechanism of action at Complex IV, oxygen toxicity, COPD hypercapnia mechanisms, and clinical dosing targets.

22 Jan 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Nitrous Oxide for the FRCA Primary

Nitrous oxide pharmacology for the FRCA Primary: physico-chemical properties, MAC of 105%, NMDA receptor antagonism, vitamin B12 oxidation, diffusion hypoxia, Entonox, and the concentration effect.

9 Jan 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ether, Enflurane and Explosions “barely for the FRCA”

Di-ethyl ether and enflurane: GABA-A volatile anaesthetic agents with high blood:gas partition coefficients, MAC values, side-effect profiles, and a guide to theatre fires, deflagration, and detonation for the FRCA.

29 Dec 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Desflurane for the FRCA and Vapourisers

Desflurane pharmacology for the FRCA: MAC, SVP, boiling point, Tec 6 vaporiser anatomy, temperature compensation, altitude effects, and why the NHS decommissioned it.

11 Dec 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Halothane For The 1963 Diploma in Anaesthesia

Halothane: physico-chemical properties, MAC, cardiovascular effects, and the two types of halothane hepatitis with mechanisms + (and fewer explosions).

27 Nov 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.46 – Sevoflurane For The FRCA Primary

Sevoflurane pharmacology for the FRCA Primary — physico-chemical properties, MAC (2.0%), pharmacodynamics, gas induction advantages, and Compound A degradation.

12 Nov 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.45 – Isoflurane For The FRCA Primary

Isoflurane pharmacology for the FRCA Primary: physico-chemical properties, MAC, blood:gas solubility, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and Dalton's Law.

29 Oct 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Almost Everything You Need to Know About Opioids for the FRCA Primary Exam

Complete opioid pharmacology series for the FRCA Primary: receptor mechanisms, PK/PD profiles, neuraxial kinetics, and viva decision-making for all major opioids.

4 Aug 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.30 – Local Anaesthetic Fundamentals for the FRCA Primary

Local anaesthetics block voltage-gated sodium channels to produce reversible nerve conduction block. This episode covers nerve physiology, pKa, drug classification, and local anaesthetic systemic toxicity for the FRCA Primary.

25 Jun 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.29 – Comparing Opioids For the FRCA Primary

Comparing opioids for the FRCA Primary: pharmacokinetics, context-sensitive half-time, neuraxial selection, and renal failure prescribing.

17 Jun 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.28 – Remifentanil and the Minto Model

Remifentanil pharmacology and the Minto TCI model for the FRCA: ester hydrolysis, context-sensitive half-time, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, and effect-site dosing targets.

9 Jun 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 25 – Diamorphine

Diamorphine pharmacology for the FRCA Primary: mechanism of action at opioid receptors, pro-drug metabolism to 6-O-acetylmorphine and morphine, neuraxial use, and key side effects.

29 May 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 25 – Oxycodone for the FRCA Primary

Oxycodone: semi-synthetic opioid, 60–87 % oral bioavailability, CYP3A4/2D6 metabolism, and equipotency conversions for FRCA Primary pharmacology.

22 May 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 24 – Methadone for the FRCA Primary

Methadone pharmacology for FRCA Primary: µ-opioid agonist, NMDA antagonist, CYP3A4/2D6 metabolism, QT prolongation, and opioid substitution therapy.

10 May 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 23 – Tramadol for the FRCA Primary Exam

Tramadol pharmacology for the FRCA Primary: multimodal mechanism (mu-opioid, noradrenaline, serotonin), CYP2D6 metabolism, active metabolite, serotonin syndrome risk.

7 May 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.22 – Alfentanil for the FRCA Primary

Alfentanil is a short-acting μ-opioid receptor agonist used in RSI, ICU sedation, and acute analgesia — FRCA Primary pharmacology examined in full.

28 Apr 2025

EduCastPodcast

Ep.21 – Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) Models for Propofol – Marsh, Schnider & Eleveld

Marsh, Schnider, and Eleveld TCI models for propofol explained for FRCA — pharmacokinetics, compartments, effect-site targeting, and clinical dosing.

24 Apr 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 16 – 1 Litre Blood Loss, Nerve conduction and pH

VivaCast 16: FRCA Primary physiology viva: acute blood loss physiology, nerve conduction + classification and acid-base balance / anion gap interpretation.

13 Apr 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 15 – Clinical Case: IV Drug User with an Infected Pseudoaneurysm

Anaesthetic management of an infected pseudoaneurysm in an IVDU: vascular access, sepsis, opioid tolerance, femoral nerve block, and local anaesthetic systemic toxicity.

3 Apr 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 14 : Pharmacokinetics, Hypoglycaemics & Clinical Studies

Pharmacokinetics (ADME), hypoglycaemic drug classes, and clinical trial design — core FRCA Primary pharmacology covered in a 20-minute VivaCast.

27 Mar 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 13 – Ultrasound, Cardiac Output Monitoring and Diathermy | FRCA Primary Viva

Viva-format episode covering ultrasound physics, cardiac output monitoring (non-invasive to Swan-Ganz), and diathermy safety for the FRCA Primary exam.

19 Mar 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 12, Anti-Emetics, Propofol (again) and Anti-Microbials.

Pharmacology viva covering antiemetic receptor targets (D2, 5-HT3, H1), propofol bolus pharmacokinetics, and antimicrobial prophylaxis principles — FRCA Primary.

14 Mar 2025

Ep. 11 PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 11 – Liver Physiology

Liver physiology for the FRCA Primary: dual blood supply, hepatic acinar zones, CYP450 biotransformation, bilirubin conjugation, and paracetamol toxicity.

5 Mar 2025

PodcastVivaCast

Vivacast 10 – Hypoxia Classification, Delivery, Saturations

Tom gets quizzed on what defines hypoxia, how oxygen is delivered to tissues and how the oxyhemoglobin disassociation curve behaves. Oxygen must traverse multiple steps from atmosphere to mitochondria, and issues at any stage results in tissue hypoxia with those inherent consequences. Understanding

26 Feb 2025

PodcastVivaCast

Vivacast 09 – The Cardiac Cycle, Coronary Perfusion, + Flow & Resistance

Cardiac cycle phases, coronary perfusion pressure, Hagen-Poiseuille equation, and Reynolds number — FRCA Primary cardiovascular physiology VivaCast.

21 Feb 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 8 – Oxygen Storage – Wheatstone Bridge – Art Lines – Fibre Optics – Lasers

FRCA Primary viva: oxygen storage, vacuum insulated evaporators, Wheatstone bridge, arterial line damping, fibre optics, and lasers.

16 Feb 2025

PodcastVivaCast

Vivacast 7 – Adrenoceptors : Local Anaesthetics : Antiarrhythmics

Adrenoceptors, G-protein signalling, local anaesthetic pKa, and Vaughan Williams antiarrhythmic classification — FRCA Primary pharmacology viva practice.

9 Feb 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 6 – Alveolar Gases, Oxygen Cascade, Partial Pressure Sensing and the Valsalva Manoeuvre

FRCA VivaCast covering the alveolar gas equation, oxygen cascade, shunt, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and the Valsalva manoeuvre — with debrief.

4 Feb 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 5 – Clinical Station – Onco-Laparotomy

Emergency laparotomy FRCA clinical viva: Tom walks through a structured approach to an elderly oncology patient with bowel perforation, covering pre-op assessment, RSI, intra-operative monitoring, and post-op critical care.

27 Jan 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 18 – Poly-Compartmental Madness – Part Two

Multi-compartmental pharmacokinetic models, context-sensitive half time, and the effect site explained for FRCA Primary candidates.

20 Jan 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 4 – FRCA Physics: Gas Laws, Heat, Humidity and Vapourisers

FRCA Primary physics: gas laws, saturated vapour pressure, humidity, Entonox, Kelvin, and desflurane vs sevoflurane vaporiser function.

15 Jan 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 17 – Poly Compartmental Madness – Part One

Multi-compartmental pharmacokinetic models for FRCA: half-life, time constant, natural logs, bi-exponential decay, and Fick's Law — the foundation for TCI drug dosing.

8 Jan 2025

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 03 – NMJ inhibiting agents – Suxamethonium vs Rocuronium – Reversal

FRCA viva on neuromuscular blockade: suxamethonium vs rocuronium mechanisms, side effects including malignant hyperthermia, and reversal with sugammadex and neostigmine.

23 Dec 2024

PodcastVivaCast

Vivacast 02 – CO2 Transport – Intra-Cranial Pressure – Neonatal Physiology

FRCA Primary physiology viva: CO₂ transport from tissues to lungs, determinants of intracranial pressure, and neonatal cardiovascular changes at birth.

6 Dec 2024

PodcastVivaCast

VivaCast 1 – Cleaning and Sterilisation for the FRCA Primary Exam

Cleaning and sterilisation of medical equipment for the FRCA Primary Viva: autoclaving, Spaulding risk classification, disinfection levels, and glutaraldehyde.

2 Dec 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 16 – Suxamethonium for the FRCA Primary Exam

Suxamethonium: depolarising neuromuscular blocker, RSI gold standard, 30-second onset. FRCA Primary pharmacology — mechanism, side effects, sux apnoea, and malignant hyperthermia.

29 Nov 2024

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 15 – Morphine for the FRCA Primary Exam

Morphine for the FRCA Primary: mu-opioid receptor mechanism, pharmacokinetics, M3G/M6G metabolites, and intrathecal delayed respiratory depression.

22 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 14 – Ketamine for the FRCA

Ketamine pharmacology for the FRCA Primary: NMDA receptor antagonism, dissociative anaesthesia, dosing, pharmacokinetics, and cardiovascular effects.

17 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 12 – Comparing Volatiles for the FRCA

Compare and contrast sevoflurane, isoflurane and desflurane for the FRCA: blood-gas partition coefficients, oil-gas solubility, MAC values, saturated vapour pressure, boiling points, and global warming potential.

11 Nov 2024

Ep. 9 EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 9 – Atracurium For The FRCA Primary

Atracurium is a benzylisoquinolinium non-depolarising neuromuscular blocker that undergoes Hofmann elimination, making it (mostly) organ-independent — essential FRCA Primary pharmacology.

9 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 11 – Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) and Partition Coefficients

Minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), blood:gas and oil:gas partition coefficients, wash-in curves, and MAC variants (MAC-awake, MAC-Bar) explained for FRCA Primary candidates.

9 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 10 – Michaelis-Menten Enzyme Kinetics & Law of Mass action

Michaelis-Menten kinetics explain enzyme saturation, Km, Vmax, and the transition between first-order and zero-order kinetics — essential pharmacology for the FRCA Primary.

9 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 8 – Thiopentone For The FRCA Primary

Thiopentone pharmacology for FRCA Primary: mechanism at GABA-A, pharmacokinetics including tautomerism and zero-order kinetics, cardiovascular and CNS effects, contraindications, and RSI use.

9 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 7 – Compartmentalised Volatiles and a brief jaunt with Sevoflurane

Sevoflurane pharmacokinetics for FRCA: wash-in, wash-out, compartmental distribution, blood-gas partition coefficient, MAC factors, and low-flow technique.

8 Nov 2024

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 3 – Fentanyl For The FRCA Primary

Fentanyl pharmacology for FRCA Primary: mu-opioid receptor mechanism, pharmacokinetics, opioid receptor subtypes (MOP/DOP/KOP/NOP), and clinical dosing.

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 6 – Hepatic Clearance For The FRCA Primary

Hepatic clearance, extraction ratio, and intrinsic clearance explained for the FRCA Primary — how hepatic blood flow and protein binding govern drug elimination.

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 2 – Propofol for the FRCA Primary

Propofol pharmacology for the FRCA Primary: mechanism of action via GABA-A potentiation, three-compartment pharmacokinetics, propofol infusion syndrome, and clinical TIVA dosing.

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 1 – Rocuronium For The FRCA Primary

Rocuronium pharmacology for FRCA Primary: mechanism of action, dosing, pharmacokinetics, sugammadex reversal, and neuromuscular junction — with a model viva answer.

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 4 – Volume of Distribution For The FRCA Primary

Volume of distribution (Vd) is a core FRCA pharmacokinetic concept — a theoretical apparent volume that explains why drugs distribute so differently across patients and tissues.

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 5 – pKa For The FRCA Primary

pKa is the pH at which a drug is 50% ionised and 50% unionised. Understanding pKa explains drug onset, membrane crossing, and local anaesthetic behaviour — essential for the FRCA Primary.

8 Nov 2024