Skip to main content

  1. Deranged Physiology
  2. CICM Fellowship Exam
  3. Past papers
2014, Paper 1 SAQs
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3.1
Question 3.2
Question 3.3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7.1
Question 7.2
Question 7.3
Question 7.4
Question 8
Question 9
Question 10
Question 11
Question 12
Question 13.1
Question 13.2
Question 13.3
Question 13.4
Question 14
Question 15
Question 16
Question 17
Question 18.1
Question 18.2
Question 18.3
Question 19
Question 20
Question 21.1
Question 21.2
Question 21.3
Question 22
Question 23
Question 24
Question 25
Question 26
Question 27
Question 28
Question 29
Question 30.1
Question 30.2
Question 30.3
Short Answer Questions in Order of Appearance
Question 1

 Critique of the Surviving Sepsis guidelines

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 9%; highest mark 6.5 .

Question 2

Pulmonary embolism: a comparison of TTE, CTPA, troponin and D-dimers.

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 34%; highest mark 7.25 .

Question 3.1

Diagnosis of sepsis during late pregnancy and labour: why is it so difficult?

(Pregnancy, Obstetrics and Gynaecology) - Pass rate 97%; highest mark 9.2 .

Question 3.2

Necrotising fasciitis of the abdominal wall. Also a game of "Name That Microbe."

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 97%; highest mark 9.2 .

Question 3.3

Acronymous organisms: ESCAPPM and HACEK organisms again.

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 97%; highest mark 9.2 .

Question 4

Management strategies for bronchopleural fistula: advantages and disadvantages

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 26%; highest mark 6.5 .

Question 5

Febrile convulsions: diagnostic features and paediatric anticonvulsant pharmacology

(Neonatal and Paediatric Problems) - Pass rate 77%; highest mark 7.45 .

Question 6

The morbidly obese multi-trauma patient

(Trauma, Burns, Drowning) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark 7.15 .

Question 7.1

Hypocalcemia in the post-parathyroidectomy patient

(Electrolytes and Fluids) - Pass rate 66%; highest mark 9.5 .

Question 7.2

Causes of a high anion gap and high osmolar gap

(Acid-Base Disorders) - Pass rate 66%; highest mark 9.5 .

Question 7.3

Causes of a normal anion gap and high osmolar gap

(Acid-Base Disorders) - Pass rate 66%; highest mark 9.5 .

Question 7.4

Estimation of energy expenditure in critical illness

(Endocrinology Metabolism and Nutrition) - Pass rate 66%; highest mark 9.5 .

Question 8

Determinants of central venous pressure and its utiility  in the ICU

(Equipment and Procedures) - Pass rate 23%; highest mark 6.25 .

Question 9

Paracetamol toxicity, management of acute liver failure, and criteria for transplantation.

(Pharmacology and Toxicology) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark 7.75 .

Question 10

Advantages and disadvantages of tracheostomy; also ethical contraindications.

(Airway Management) - Pass rate 63%; highest mark 8 .

Question 11

Sepsis in the bone marrow transplant recipient (also, causes of diarrhoea)

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 80%; highest mark 7.5 .

Question 12

Rheumatoid arthritis: how it makes intubation difficult, and how it complicates ICU management.

(Miscellaneous Topics) - Pass rate 49%; highest mark 7.5 .

Question 13.1

Pressure-volume and flow-volume loops

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 66%; highest mark 9.75 .

Question 13.2

Pressure-volume and flow-volume loops

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 66%; highest mark 9.75 .

Question 13.3

End-tidal capnometry waveform interpretation

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 66%; highest mark 9.75 .

Question 13.4

Assessment of oxygenation from ABG data:  increased dead space in PE

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 66%; highest mark 9.75 .

Question 14

Clostridium difficile again: risk factors, diagnosis, complications, prevention, treatment.

(Infectious Disease Antibiotics and Sepsis) - Pass rate 57%; highest mark 8.0 .

Question 15

Clinical policymaking in intensive care: how to revise a transfusion policy

(Administration and Data Management) - Pass rate 57%; highest mark 9.25 .

Question 16

Hypercapneic respiratory failure: clinical features and differential diagnosis

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 71%; highest mark 8.5 .

Question 17

Diabetic ketoacidosis vs. HONK: distinguishing features and management of HONK.

(Endocrinology Metabolism and Nutrition) - Pass rate 51%; highest mark 7.75 .

Question 18.1

Another game of "Name That ECG Abnormality"

(Cardiology) - Pass rate 40%; highest mark 8 .

Question 18.2

Another game of "Name That ECG Abnormality"

(Cardiology) - Pass rate 40%; highest mark 8 .

Question 18.3

Another game of "Name That ECG Abnormality"

(Cardiology) - Pass rate 40%; highest mark 8 .

Question 19

Positioning and immobilisation of a critically ill trauma patient

(Trauma, Burns, Drowning) - Pass rate 37%; highest mark 6.5 .

Question 20

Differential diagnosis of diffuse pulmonary infiltrates (is it ARDS?)

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 37%; highest mark 6.5 .

Question 21.1

The dermatomes - "Name This Dermatome"

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 34%; highest mark 7.25 .

Question 21.2

Cranial nerve lesions: CN IX, CN XII, CN VII, CN VI.

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 34%; highest mark 7.25 .

Question 21.3

Examination of the cranial nerves: CN VI

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 34%; highest mark 7.25 .

Question 22

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation and oesophageal perforation

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 34%; highest mark 8 .

Question 23

Indications for ECMO, and specifically the relative merits of VV and VA ECMO.

(Cardiothoracic Intensive Care) - Pass rate 43%; highest mark 7 .

Question 24

Stewart's physicochemical approach to acid-base analysis

(Acid-Base Disorders) - Pass rate 5.7%; highest mark 7.5 .

Question 25

Causes of haemorrhagic stroke and factors which influence its prognosis

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 77%; highest mark 8.1 .

Question 26

Define: external validity, bias and selection bias. 

(Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence) - Pass rate 77%; highest mark 8.25 .

Question 27

Intracranial pressure as a therapeutic target: advantages and disadvantages of ICP monitoring

(Neurology and Neurosurgery) - Pass rate 97%; highest mark 8.5 .

Question 28

Ventilation strategies for status asthmaticus; intrinsic PEEP and dynamic hyperinflation

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 80%; highest mark 8 .

Question 29

Strategies to prolong the lifespan of the CRRT circuit

(Renal Failure and Dialysis) - Pass rate 43%; highest mark 7.5 .

Question 30.1

Hypoosmolar hyponatremia due to amiodarone-induced myxoedema coma

(Endocrinology Metabolism and Nutrition) - Pass rate 80%; highest mark 9.0 .

Question 30.2

Metabolic alkalosis with severe hypokalemia - likely, hyperaldosteronism.

(Acid-Base Disorders) - Pass rate 80%; highest mark 9.0 .

Question 30.3

Assessment of oxygenation from ABG data:  a left-shifted p50

(Respiratory Medicine and Mechanical Ventilation) - Pass rate 80%; highest mark 9.0 .

[Submit a comment or correction]

© Alex Yartsev 
2013-2020