2007, Paper 2 SAQs

Toxic shock syndrome

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 65%; highest mark ? .

Differential diagnosis of wheeze: a patient with unilateral wheeze

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 60%; highest mark ? .

Polyuria following brain injury. A variation on the theme of hypernatremia

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 79%; highest mark ? .

Utility of the routine daily chest Xrays - "critically evaluate" this pointless practice

(Miscellaneous Topics) - Pass rate 49%; highest mark ? .

Normal anion gap metabolic acidosis with hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis.

(Acid-Base Disorders) - Pass rate 44%; highest mark ? .

Analgesic techniques for multiple rib fractures: advantages and disadvantages of thoracic epidural

(Trauma, Burns, Drowning) - Pass rate 56%; highest mark ? .

Prognosis in moderate brain injury: ICU vs HDU admission

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 28%; highest mark ? .

Factors which influence intensive care outcome; specifically age-related changes in physiology

(Miscellaneous Topics) - Pass rate 23%; highest mark ? .

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura; lactic acidosis following seizures

(Haematology and Oncology) - Pass rate 63%; highest mark ? .

Circulatory changes in the newborn

(Neonatal and Paediatric Problems) - Pass rate 77%; highest mark ? .

Hand washing and personal protective equipment

(Administration and Data Management) - Pass rate 65%; highest mark ? .

Peak pressure, plateau pressure and compliance. Also, Intrinsic PEEP.

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 77%; highest mark ? .

Which antibiotic choice would be appropriate (abdominal catastrophe).

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 80%; highest mark ? .

Definitions of CRRT terminology

(Renal Failure and Dialysis) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark ? .

Critically evaluate the clinical information system (CIS) in intensive care

(Administration and Data Management) - Pass rate 42%; highest mark ? .

A comparison of states of persistent unconsciousness

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 32%; highest mark ? .

Tension-based and content-based indices of oxygenation: A-a gradient vs. PaO₂/FiO₂

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 16%; highest mark ? .

"What's Wrong With This Blood Film?"- Howell-Jolly bodies

(Haematology and Oncology) - Pass rate 83%; highest mark ? .

PA catheter: correct positioning, measurement error, and PAWP higher than LVEDP

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 72%; highest mark ? .

Radiological diagnosis of brain death

(Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation) - Pass rate 65%; highest mark ? .

Blood transfusion in the ICU and ABO group compatibility

(Haematology and Oncology) - Pass rate 83%; highest mark ? .

The Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR)

(Administration and Data Management) - Pass rate 60%; highest mark ? .

Factors influencing intensive care outcome: genetic influences

(Miscellaneous Topics) - Pass rate 13%; highest mark ? .

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) vs transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE)

(Cardiology) - Pass rate 60%; highest mark ? .

A comparison of biochemical indices in diagnosis of pre-renal failure.

(Renal Failure and Dialysis) - Pass rate 97%; highest mark ? .

Open and closed models of intensive care units

(Administration and Data Management) - Pass rate 60%; highest mark ? .

Physiological changes of pregnancy; also, cardiac failure and arrest in pregnancy

(Pregnancy, Obstetrics and Gynaecology) - Pass rate 90%; highest mark ? .

Estimation of energy expenditure; Refeeding syndrome

(Endocrinology Metabolism and Nutrition) - Pass rate 65%; highest mark ? .

Comparison of the common colloid resuscitation fluids

(Electrolytes and Fluids) - Pass rate 58%; highest mark ? .

 Meta-analysis:  features suggestive of "high quality".

(Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence) - Pass rate 26%; highest mark ? .