What next?

4 weeks to go.... it's difficult to know at this stage where to focus revision. I've got one more week at work, then I go off to Liverpool for the Booker course and have annual leave etc, two night shifts at work, then more annual leave and then the exam. So, I do have a fair bit of study time available, but what's the best way to utilise it? I need to 'cane it' with MCQs - literally try and do hundreds (maybe into the thousands if possible) - it's the only way, and it's worked before for me. The good thing about MCQs is that they can be done anywhere: in the bath, on public transport on the way to work, even (dare I say it, although couldn't possibly condone it) at work!!

SAQs: I've nearly finished working my way through the Past Papers on the College web-site. Incidentally, the majority of the questions from 1996-2000 can be found in the SAQ textbooks by Bricker, and Dashfield & Murphy, taken verbatim. There are many more SAQs to be answered from the AnaesthesiaUK website (also see one of my previous posts where I categorised all of them).

The RCOA kindly publishes a report on the previous SAQ paper which has some interesting content. Firstly, it would appear that recently, questions done poorly in one year are repeated the following year (but not six months later). Also, they emphasise the inclusion of hot topics. I have taken the liberty of "guestimating" my very own hot topics for the forthcoming exam!!

- CEMACH 2003-2005 - it's just too good an opportunity to miss, surely?

- Obesity in pregnancy was a hot enough topic to make the national news headlines.

- Amniotic Fluid Embolism deaths shot up in this triennium - a lovely little question!!

- POISE (Perioperative Ischaemic Evaluation) study: looks at beta-blocker use in non-cardiac surgery

- CEPEX testing: here and here

- Awareness - trendy topical subject. Has been in the headlines in past couple of months + ironically a Hollywood film is about to be released in the UK.

- Mental Capacity Act - has come into force in late 2007

- Association of Anaesthetists Guidelines in 2007
-LA toxicity +/- Intralipid use
-Malignant Hyperthermia treatment (already used in a question and answered well, so unlikely to come up)
-Perioperative Management of the Morbidly Obese Patient - THIS IS FAIR GAME FOR THIS YEAR!!
-Standards of monitoring during anaesthesia & recovery

- NICE Guidelines (2007-8)
-Venous Thromboembolism: April 2007
-Acutely Ill patients in hospital: July 2007
-Head Injury: September 2007
-Intrapartum Care: September 2007
-Ultrasound Guidance in locating the Epidural Space: January 2008

-New Ideas
-Advances on clotting pathways
-Sickle cell anaemia

I also think that it is prudent to read through review article from the big journals for the last year i.e Jan 2007 - Feb 2008. Bold highlighted articles are those which lend themselves to SAQs!

BJA: here & here

Jan Fentanyl patch vs post-op pain

Feb Statins in sepsis

Mar Neuromuscular monitoring

Apr Blood flow & ventilation in the lung / percussion pacing

May CA stents in non-cardiac surgery

Jun Diastolic heart failure

Jul Neuro ++! The whole post-grad issue is neuroanaesthesia/NICU reviews

Aug Carotid endarterectomy

Sept Perioperative platelet Rx

Oct Sciatica & epidural injections / contrast-induced nephropathy

Nov Cardioprotection with remote ischaemic preconditioning

Dec Gabapentin

Jan Sedation & Regional anaesthesia

Feb Prone position / epidural analgesia vs periph NB for knee surgery


Anaesthesia

Feb Simulators

Mar Temp. epicardial pacing part 1

Apr Temp. epicardial pacing part 2

May Systemic complications post-head injury

Jul Propofol-infusion syndrome

Oct Interpleural block part 1

Nov Interpleural block part 2 / new thrombotic agents & neuraxial anaesthesia for major orthopaedic surgery

Dec Remifentanil

Jan Oesophageal Doppler in abdominal surgery / Statins for non-cardiac surgery part1

Feb Statins for non-cardiac surgery part 2 / cardiac output monitoring


Happy Reading!!