2013, Paper 2 Vivas

The morbidly obese trauma patient... who also turns out to be pregnant

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

A 62-year-old male is admitted to the ICU post-operatively having undergone a transthoracic oesophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. The patient is extubated post-operatively but requires reintubation due to respiratory failure.

What are the likely causes in this patient?

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

You are referred a 35-year-old female by the Emergency Department, who presented with a reduced level of consciousness. She has been intubated and ventilated and is haemodynamically stable.
 
Her CT brain is normal, and she is apyrexial.
She has no known past medical history.
Investigations on admission are shown in TABLE 1*
Interpret these biochemical findings.
 
*Table 1 not included in the report. 

In the absence of actual biochemical findings to interpret, this is a pointless viva entry. 
I have included an alternative Table 1, which - though noncanonical - should suffice as a starting point for discussion.