RAPM Focus

About RAPM Focus

RAPM Focus is devoted to exploring the provocative and impactful aspects of the research published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine (RAPM) - rapm.bmj.com. Authors are joined by Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Brian Sites, and other members of the RAPM Editorial Board to discuss and debate the findings that matter most for clinicians, patients, and policy makers. Topical coverage includes all aspects of acute, perioperative, transitional, and chronic pain medicine. At RAPM, we believe well-done pain medicine improves health and well-being. Thanks for joining us. @RAPM_Online Podcast and music produced by Dan Langa.

Publisher

BMJ Group

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Mar 2022

Latest episode

15 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

57 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Episode 55: Regional Anesthesia for Distal Radius Fracture Repair: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study of Perioperative Outcomes and Postoperative Healthcare Utilization

   Editor-in-Chief Brian Sites, MD, explores the use of regional anesthesia for distal radius fracture repair with Edward Yap, MD, and David Zeltser, MD, based on the results of their multicenter retrospective cohort study. Their discussion follows the June 2026 publication of their original research paper, “Regional Anesthesia for Distal Radius Fracture Repair: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study of Perioperative Outcomes and Postoperative Healthcare Utilization.” Dr. Yap is an anesthesiologist at Kaiser Permanente Northern California and a physician researcher in the TPMG DARE Program, with a joint appointment as associate clinical professor at University of California, San Francisco. His research spans perioperative outcomes, population health, comparative effectiveness, and implementation science across surgical populations. Dr. Zeltser is a board-certified orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon at Kaiser Permanente Washington, where he also serves as Interim Associate Medical Director of Orthopedic Surgery. Over a decade of practice, he has developed a keen interest in perioperative pain control shaped by direct patient feedback, coordinating closely with anesthesia colleagues on nerve block utilization for outpatient upper extremity surgery. His research, conducted through the Kaiser Permanente National Implant Registries and KPNC clinical databases, spans elbow arthroplasty outcomes, distal radius fractures, and healthcare utilization in integrated health systems. *The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice, and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care, or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others. Podcast and music produced by Dan Langa. Find us on X @RAPMOnline, LinkedIn @Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, Facebook @Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, and Instagram @RAPM_Online.

2. 

   14 Aug 2026

   Episode 54: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist use and risk of arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis: retrospective database analysis

   Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability, with limited disease modifying therapies—yet glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists may reduce progression to total knee arthroplasty. In this episode of RAPM Focus, Executive Editor Anahi Perlas, MD, FRCPC, explores whether or not GLP-1 receptor agonists may reduce the risk of arthroplasty for total knee osteoarthritis with Ryan D’Souza, MD, and Jay Karri, MD. Their conversation follows the April 2026 publication of their original research paper, “Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist use and risk of arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis: retrospective database analysis.” Dr. Anahi Perlas is a professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine at the University of Toronto. She is the Director of Research and the Director of the Perioperative POCUS Fellowship at Toronto Western Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Perlas is an Executive Editor of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, and a founding and current member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Editorial Board on point-of-care ultrasound, overseeing the ASA Certificate of Completion in POCUS. Dr. Ryan D'Souza is a pain physician and professor of anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic. His major focus lies in neuromodulation, guideline development, and evidence appraisal. He serves on the Board of Directors of NANS and has authored over 200 publications. He is a section editor for Neuromodulation journal and Journal of Pain Research, and also serves on the editorial board for RAPM. Dr. Jay Karri is an assistant professor of physiatry and pain medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. His clinical and research interests include musculoskeletal ultrasound, neuromodulation, and technical considerations in pain interventions. He serves on the ASRA Pain Medicine Guidelines and Regulatory Advocacy Committee, and is an Associate Editor at the Regional Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine journal. *The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice, and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care, or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others. Podcast and music produced by Dan Langa. Find us on X @RAPMOnline, LinkedIn @Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, Facebook @Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, and Instagram @RAPM_Online.

3. 

   15 Jul 2026

   Episode 53: Analgesic efficacy of the ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block for ambulatory hip arthroscopy: a randomized controlled double-blind trial

   In this episode of RAPM Focus, Editor-in-Chief Brian Sites, MD, discusses the optimal analgesic approach for reducing postoperative pain following ambulatory hip arthroscopy with Laura Girón Arango, MD, Joanne Tan, MBBS (Hons), FRACP, and Sinéad Campbell, MB, BCh, BAO, FCAI. Their conversation follows the March 2026 publication of their original research paper, “Analgesic efficacy of the ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block for ambulatory hip arthroscopy: a randomized controlled double-blind trial.” Hip arthroscopy is an increasingly common outpatient surgical procedure where postoperative pain can be severe. Peripheral nerve blocks have been evaluated for analgesia following hip arthroscopy; however, there is no consensus on an optimal technique that provides effective local anesthetic-based postoperative analgesia without motor blockade. In this study, the investigators hypothesized that the pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block would provide effective motor-sparing analgesia following ambulatory hip arthroscopy, randomizing 94 patients undergoing outpatient hip arthroscopy to receive either a preoperative pain block with 20ml of 0.5% ropivacaine or a sham procedure. Dr. Laura Girón Arango is a staff anesthesiologist at Toronto Western Hospital and Women’s College Hospital, and an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Her clinical and academic work focuses on regional anesthesia and point of care ultrasound. Her research has centered on motor-sparing regional anesthesia techniques for hip and knee surgery, including the PENG, iPACK, and adductor canal blocks. Additional areas of interest include perioperative diaphragm ultrasound assessment and the use of gastric ultrasound to evaluate aspiration risk, particularly in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists. Through this work, she aims to advance perioperative safety, improve individualized pain management, and promote the integration of ultrasound into routine anesthetic practice. Dr. Joanne Tan is a consultant anesthetist, regional anesthesia lead, and regional anesthesia fellowship supervisor at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, Australia, and a clinical lecturer at the Adelaide University. She completed a regional anesthesia fellowship at the Toronto Western Hospital and University of Toronto, and neuroanesthesia and upper GI fellowships at the Royal Adelaide hospital. Her interests include regional anesthesia, POCUS, neuroanesthesia, quality improvement, medical education, and making memes. Dr. Sinéad Campbell is a staff anesthesiologist at Toronto Western and Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, and an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Her clinical practice focuses on regional anesthesia and neuroanesthesia. Her research interests include regional anesthesia and perioperative cognitive impairment. She is actively involved in clinical education, with a focus on teaching ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and practical perioperative decision-making to trainees. *The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice, and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care, or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others. Podcast and music produced by Dan Langa. Find us on X @RAPMOnline, LinkedIn @Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, Facebook @Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, and Instagram @RAPM_Online.

Who has been a guest on RAPM Focus

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ryan D’Souza
• Nasir Hussain
• K Elliott Higgins III
• Courtney Burns

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

29

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

67

Contact RAPM Focus

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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