Equipment station.
Candidates were expected to describe or discuss advantages or problems with devices presented. Examples included a closed suction device, a “Flexitip” laryngoscope, a metered dose inhaler & a nebuliser, and a chest drainage bottle. Introductory questions included:
“What is this device? What are the proposed advantages of this system?”
“What is this piece of equipment? What is its purpose?”
“What are these 2 pieces of equipment? Compare and contrast these 2 devices.”
“What is this device? Describe the 3 different compartments and their functions.”
Fourteen out of sixteen candidates passed this station.
Disclaimer: the viva stem above may be an original CICM stem, acquired from their publicly available past papers. Or, perhaps it is a slightly altered version of the original CICM stem. Or, it is a completely original viva stem, concocted by the monstrously amoral author of Deranged Physiology for nothing more than his own personal amusement. In either case, because the college do not make the main viva text or marking criteria available, almost everything here has been confabulated. It might sound like a plausible viva and it could be used for the purpose of practice, but all should be aware that it does not represent the "true" canonical CICM viva station.