2010, Paper 1 SAQs

Management of a burns patient:  classification of burns and estimation of %BSA

(Trauma, Burns, Drowning) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark ? .

Biomarkers in assessment of acute kidney injury, eg urea:creatinine ratio

(Renal Failure and Dialysis) - Pass rate 47%; highest mark ? .

Features that distinguish myopathy from neuropathy

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 67%; highest mark ? .

Cardiovascular physical examination:  causes of an apical diastolic murmur.

(Cardiology) - Pass rate 67%; highest mark ? .

Atelectasis: clinical features of complete one-sided lung collapse.

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 67%; highest mark ? .

Stress-induced hyperglycaemia: mechanisms, consequences and management.

(Endocrinology Metabolism and Nutrition) - Pass rate 56%; highest mark ? .

Spinal cord injury syndromes:  list 2 causes, and the clinical findings

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 77%; highest mark ? .

Obstetric catastrophe: investigating the woman suspected of pre-eclampsia

(Pregnancy, Obstetrics and Gynaecology) - Pass rate 63%; highest mark ? .

Weird body fluids - "chicken fat supernatant"

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

Approach to the patient with severe airway injuries.  Also, management of stridor.

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

Methods of intracranial pressure monitoring: compare the EVD and the Codman catheter.

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 81%; highest mark ? .

Paediatric intubation: practical approach.

(Neonatal and Paediatric Problems) - Pass rate 47%; highest mark ? .

DVT prophylaxis in the ICU: specifically, DVT prophylaxis in neurotrauma.

(Miscellaneous Topics) - Pass rate 84%; highest mark ? .

Arterial waveforms at different positions in the vascular tree

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark ? .

Information derived from the arterial line square wave test

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark ? .

Broadly, what information can be derived from the arterial line waveform?

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark ? .

Rhabdomyolysis, optimising solute clearance, troubleshooting CRRT, and dose of CRRT.

(Renal Failure and Dialysis) - Pass rate 77%; highest mark ? .

Antibiotics for MRSA, antifungals, and antibiotic dosing in renal failure.

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 86%; highest mark ? .

Plasmapheresis: principles, indications, complications.

(Renal Failure and Dialysis) - Pass rate 74%; highest mark ? .

Conventional CPR vs. compression-only CPR.

(Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation) - Pass rate 26%; highest mark ? .

What are the different causes of shock (in this pancreatitis patient)?

(Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation) - Pass rate 28%; highest mark ? .

The capnography waveform: why is it flat?

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 93%; highest mark ? .

Co-oximetry vs. pulse oximetry

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 93%; highest mark ? .

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

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 93%; highest mark ? .

Approach to cardiac arrest and peri-arrest scenarios: causes of cardiac arrest

(Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation) - Pass rate 81%; highest mark ? .

Approach to cardiac arrest and peri-arrest scenarios: investigations

(Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation) - Pass rate 81%; highest mark ? .

Physiological consequences of spinal cord transection

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 81%; highest mark ? .

Calculate sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV

(Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence) - Pass rate 86%; highest mark ? .

Calculate: Relative risk, absolute risk, NNT

(Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence) - Pass rate 86%; highest mark ? .

Propofol infusion syndrome. Risk factors, laboratory evidence, management.

(Pharmacology and Toxicology) - Pass rate 47%; highest mark ? .

Safe prescribing and minimisation of medication error

(Administration and Data Management) - Pass rate 33%; highest mark ? .

Non-rebreather oxygen mask, again.

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 86%; highest mark ? .

Safety features of the wall suction outlet regulator.

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 86%; highest mark ? .

The Rapid Infusion Catheter: what determines the flow though it?

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 86%; highest mark ? .

Critical evaluation of procalcitonin; a variant of the biomarkers of sepsis

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 28%; highest mark ? .

Causes of lactic acidosis in sepsis  (and causes of lactic acidosis in general)

(Acid-Base Disorders) - Pass rate 100%; highest mark ? .

Use of albumin in critically ill patients

(Electrolytes and Fluids) - Pass rate 70%; highest mark ? .

Thoracic epidural vs. PCA: analgesic techniques for multiple rib fractures

(Trauma, Burns, Drowning) - Pass rate 60%; highest mark ? .

Approach to the unconscious patient in the ICU

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark ? .

Causes of respiratory failure: trauma patient with post-operative hypoxia

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark ? .

Storage lesions of refrigerated packed red blood cells.

(Haematology and Oncology) - Pass rate 23%; highest mark ? .

Benefits of leukodepleted blood.

(Haematology and Oncology) - Pass rate 23%; highest mark ? .

"What's Wrong With These Coags?" - factor deficiency

(Haematology and Oncology) - Pass rate 88%; highest mark ? .

"What's Wrong With These Coags?" - a pan-coagulopathy, everything is wrong.

(Haematology and Oncology) - Pass rate 88%; highest mark ? .

"What's Wrong With This Blood Film?" - causes of macrocytosis

(Haematology and Oncology) - Pass rate 88%; highest mark ? .