The Structured Oral Examination in Anaesthesia: Practice Papers for Teachers and Trainees

277 Pages·2006·1.17 MB·English

by  Dr Shyam Balasubramanian

The Structured Oral Examination
in Anaesthesia
Practice Papers for Teachers and Trainees – Primary FRCA
This book is made up of questions and answers that closely simulate the Royal College of
Anaesthetists’ oral examination format. Set up as complete examination papers, the book
enables candidates to assess their knowledge accurately and within time limits. The answers
are presented thoroughly and clearly, with help from diagrams. Thorough revision of this
book will be of benefit for anaesthesia oral examinations worldwide. The volume is an
essential aid to study for trainees and a tool for trainers.
SHYAM BALASUBRAMANIANis a Specialist Registrar at The Warwickshire School of
Anaesthesia and The Heart of England Foundation Trust Hospitals in Birmingham. He is a
Member ofThe Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, and The Society
for Intravenous Anaesthesia. He has practised anaesthesia in India, Canada and in the
United Kingdom.
CYPRIAN MENDONCAis a Consultant Anaesthetist at the University Hospitals of Coventry
and Warwickshire. He is a member ofThe Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain
and Ireland, The Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association andThe Difficult Airway Society.
Mendonca contributed a chapter to ‘Core Cases in Obstetric Anaesthesia’, published in 2004.
He has practised anaesthesia in both India and in the United Kingdom.
COLIN PINNOCKis a Consultant Anaesthetist at Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, and an
examiner for the Royal College of Anaesthetists. He has written and edited several market-
leading textbooks including Fundamentals of Anaesthesia and has contributed to many
more – such as the Qbase series.

The Structured Oral
Examination in
Anaesthesia
Practice Papers for Teachers and Trainees –
Primary FRCA
Dr SHYAM BALASUBRAMANIAN MD FRCA
Specialist Registrar
Warwickshire School of Anaesthesia
England
Dr CYPRIAN MENDONCA MD FRCA
Consultant Anaesthetist
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
Coventry
England
Dr COLIN PINNOCK MBBS FRCA
Consultant Anaesthetist
Alexandra Hospital
Redditch
Worcestershire
England
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© Cambridge University Press 2006
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of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take
place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 2006
Reprinted 2009
Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge
A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data
ISBN-13 978-0-521-68050-9 paperback
ISBN-10 0-521-68050-6 paperback
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs
for external or third-party Internet web sites referred to in this publication, and does not
guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Every effort has been made in preparing this publication to provide accurate and up-to-date
information which is in accord with accepted standards and practice at the time of publica-
tion. Although case histories are drawn from actual cases, every effort has been made to
disguise the identities of the individuals involved. Nevertheless, the authors, editors and
publishers can make no warranties that the information contained herein is totally free from
error, not least because clinical standards are constantly changing through research and
regulation. The authors, editors and publishers therefore disclaim all liability for direct or
consequential damages resulting from the use of material contained in this publication.
Readers are strongly advised to pay careful attention to information provided by the manu-
facturer of any drugs or equipment that they plan to use.
Table of contents
Preface vii
Acknowledgements ix
Abbreviations xi
SOE1 Physiology 1 1
Pharmacology 1 6
Clinical 1 11
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 1 17
SOE2 Physiology 2 24
Pharmacology 2 28
Clinical 2 34
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 2 39
SOE3 Physiology 3 46
Pharmacology 3 52
Clinical 3 58
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 3 64
SOE4 Physiology 4 72
Pharmacology 4 78
Clinical 4 85
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 4 90
SOE5 Physiology 5 98
Pharmacology 5 104
Clinical 5 110
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 5 116
S SOE6 Physiology 6 124
T
N Pharmacology 6 129
E
T
N Clinical 6 136
O
C
F Physics, clinical measurement and safety 6 142
O
E
L SOE7 Physiology 7 149
B
A
T Pharmacology 7 155
Clinical 7 161
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 7 167
SOE8 Physiology 8 174
Pharmacology 8 180
Clinical 8 188
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 8 193
SOE9 Physiology 9 201
Pharmacology 9 207
Clinical 9 212
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 9 218
SOE10 Physiology 10 226
Pharmacology 10 231
Clinical 10 239
Physics, clinical measurement and safety 10 245
Index of key topics 253
vi
Preface
I have been aware for some time that the amount of material aimed at candidates
for the FRCA greatly outweighs that designed for trainers. There is so much good
material available to revising candidates that there is really no excuse for sitting the
examination inadequately prepared. Whilst this volume will hopefully help in revi-
sion terms, it is equally targeted at those worthy seniors who make themselves
available for ‘mock’ oral examinations. I have used my experience of examining to
ensure that the content of this book gives a representative feel for the real situation.
Trainers wishing to conduct practice orals will find 10 ready-made structured
examinations within. The format closely follows the current procedure of the pri-
mary FRCA and there are thus three topics to each subject – in line with current
marking. Aspiring candidates will, I hope, also benefit from the revision material
which is deliberately written in a semi-discursive style.
It is obviously imperative when training candidates about to sit the Royal
College Examinations, that the subject matter is apposite. I hope those who read
and use this book will appreciate the suitability of its content. Readers may
care to note that the educationalist approved term for ‘Viva’ is now ‘Structured
Oral Examination’ or SOE for short. This book therefore uses this parlance
throughout.
My thanks are extended to my two co-authors, both of whom have played a
large role in the organisation of the FRCA preparation courses at Coventry. Much
of the material within has been used on these courses for some years.
Once again I wish those about to sit the examination good luck. Go well
prepared!
Colin Pinnock
Alexandra Hospital
Redditch
April 2006

Acknowledgements
The authors thank Cambridge University Press for permission to use diagrams
from Fundamentals of Anaesthesia 2nd edition. Thanks are also due to the original
providers of these diagrams: Robert Jones, Ted Lin, Timothy Smith and Colin
Pinnock. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and help received from
their colleagues.