Table of Contents
Core Topics in ICU
Quick Links
CICM Part II Revision Notes and SAQs
CICM Part II Past Papers
Recently Updated Questions
Question 9 - 2014, Paper 2 SAQs;
Metabolic fate of dietary triglycerides
Question 8 - 2014, Paper 2 SAQs;
Pharmacology of vasoactive agents: classification of inotropes
Question 6 - 2014, Paper 2 SAQs;
Mechanisms of heat production and heat loss, broadly
Question 4 - 2014, Paper 2 SAQs;
Anatomy and physiology of the parasympathetic nervous system
Question 2 - 2014, Paper 2 SAQs;
Pharmacology of anticonvulsants: phenytoin vs. levitiracetam
Question 1 - 2014, Paper 2 SAQs;
Pharmacology of vasoactive agents: classification of inotropes
Question 24 - 2014, Paper 1 SAQs;
Pharmacology of analgesics: opiates
Question 23 - 2014, Paper 1 SAQs;
Glomerular filtration rate
Question 22 - 2014, Paper 1 SAQs;
Major buffer systems
Question 21 - 2014, Paper 1 SAQs;
Pharmacology of anticoagulants: warfarin vs. dabigatran
Recently Updated Material
Prognosis of acute liver failure
Wednesday, July 1 (2015); Gastroenterology and Hepatology
There are numerous tables and criteria scales which are available.
Organ donation
Tuesday, June 30 (2015); Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation
-
GIVE trigger: GCS under 5, intubated, ventilated, and with end-of-life discussions in progress.
In NSW, the two doctors determining brain death cant be involved in the tissue removal or the care of the organ recipient, and must have practiced medicine for at least 5 of the last 8 years. Furthermore, one of them must be a designated specialist in that hospital.
ECG localisation of coronary artery territories
Tuesday, June 30 (2015); Cardiology
Which artery am I infarcting?
If you would like t
Left anterior fascicular block
Tuesday, June 30 (2015); Cardiology
Left bundle branch block
Tuesday, June 30 (2015); Cardiology
Features of LBBB:
The QRS axis
Tuesday, June 30 (2015); Cardiology
There are several methods to determine this direction.
The isoelectric lead method
The AXIS is the chief direction of QRS propagation in the vaguely coronal plane.
Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Monday, June 29 (2015); Haematology and Oncology
FFP: fresh frozen plasma
The liquid portion of the blood, separated and frozen within 8 hours of collection
It comes in 250ml bags, and it contains pretty much all the factors:
Outcome measures
Monday, June 29 (2015); Research methods and statistics, Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence
Clinically meaningful outcomes: something meaningful to the patient; eg.
- survival
- quality of life
Surrogate outcomes: something meaningful to the intensivist; eg.
- oxygenation
- blood pressure, urine output
So, surely surrogate outcomes are worth pursuing? There must be some benefit to maintaining normoxia, and that must have some sort of positive influence on survival... right?
Steps in designing and conducting a clinical trial
Monday, June 29 (2015); Research methods and statistics, Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence
Conduct of clinical trials in 14 easy steps
LITFL has the dummie's guide to clinical trial design.
Data distributions
Monday, June 29 (2015); Research methods and statistics, Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence
Data distributions
The keywords to memorise but not necessarilty understand are as follows:
Interpretation of time-to-event curves
Monday, June 29 (2015); Research methods and statistics, Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence
Time-to-event curves
This topic is covered by the LITFL entry, Hazard Ratio, Median Ratio and Kaplan-Meier Curves. It refers to curves of events over time, eg. survival over time.
Statistical significance and clinical significance
Monday, June 29 (2015); Research methods and statistics, Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence
Statistical significance and clinical significance
Statistical significance:
Quantitative data: measures of variability and central tendency
Monday, June 29 (2015); Research methods and statistics, Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence
Quantitative data types
- Expressed numerically, and ordered on a scale
- Interval data: increase at constant intervals, but do not start at zero, eg. temperature on the Celsius scale
- Ratio data: interval data which has a true zero, eg.
Trials which stop earlier than expected
Monday, June 29 (2015); Research methods and statistics, Statistics and Interpretation of Evidence
Trials have a planned end goal. They are planned to end when
- The required numbers (for study power) are enrolled
- The required event count is achieved
- The required follow-up period elapses for the enrolled patients
- The planned end-of-trial date arrives (This has much to do with funding and logistics)
As data piles up, interim analysis is carried out.
This short of analysis should be performed according to certain validity-preserving criteria: