Description

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Omar Khan - an Anaesthetist with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) to explore the realities of sedation in pre-hospital and critical care settings.

We take a look at what safe and effective sedation looks like outside the hospital environment, and how Enhanced care teams approach it in the PHEM setting.

🔍 Topics covered include:

• What sedation actually is in the context of pre-hospital care
• The four principles of sedation and how they guide safe practice
• Common indications for sedation in trauma and medical emergencies
• Contraindications, cautions, and red flags to watch for
• A breakdown of sedative agents: what’s used, why, and when
• Monitoring standards during sedation – what’s essential and what’s ideal
• The role of human factors, team communication, and decision-making
• Balancing risk vs. benefit in dynamic and often unpredictable environments
• Real-world insight into how sedation fits within critical care team operations

Whether you're working on the road, in the air, or building your knowledge as a junior clinician, this episode offers practical, experience-based insights from a leading pre-hospital provider

https://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(25)00076-9/fulltext

https://www.midlandsairambulance.com/

Twitter - @MedicMiddle