ANZCA Part 1 SAQs
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Warfarin reversal
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hard for me cos I’m bad at haem
Pharmacokinetics of chronic kidney disease
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hit the headings and use loads of examples with some detail about the examples (as per examiners report)
Respiratory responses to hypoxaemia
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Should probably have a line or two about HPV for the awake patient
How a pulse oximeter works
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Errors is a separate question don’t @me
NMB at larynx, diaphragm, adductor pollicis
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cool graph on ketamine nightmares that is worth drawing
Afterload
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Table at the start
Time to awakening after propofol TCI
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Draw compartment model. PK/PD structure. PK needs to include accumulation and elimination.
IPPV and CO
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
More than just a valsalva but similar principles. Don’t forget frank starling graph and indirect effects.
Perioperative hypothermia
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Classify into mild and mod-severe
CVS effects in pregnancy
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pretty neat
Hyperventilation reducing intracranial pressure
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The buffering part is hard to get my head around
Protective and regulatory functions of the liver
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Protective: RID (reservoir, immunological, drugs). Regulatory: SEAMS (storage, endocrine, acid base, metabolic, synthesis)
Ageing and the respiratory system
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Weirdly not put into a section of its own in Nunn’s or West’s. Ended up using deranged physiology for most of it. Use a graph for FRC and CC.
CO2 carriage in the blood
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brandis very good again. Do a graph at the end with arterial and venous lines showing Haldane effect.
Safe delivery of oxygen
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Acronym for machine features is POP (pressure, oxygen, power)
Renal hormones (produced within or activated by)
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Had to look in different parts of different books for this one 😡 inefficient but done
Foetal and adult Hb
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brandis is my pick for this question. Graphs I’ve talked about are from there too.
Preload
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Filling pressure, compliance, afterload. Then section on IPPV/SV for showing off.
Work of breathing
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hasn’t come up in 10 years and poor pass rate, core topic
Respiratory system compliance
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A hard one. Can exclude certain parts for questions specifically on lung compliance.
Platelets and their role in haemostasis
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
So much rote learning that means nothing
O2 and CO2 transfer at the placenta
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Maternal (uterine artery) O2 = 105mmHg, CO2 = 30mmHg. Foetal (umbilical artery) O2 = 20mmHg, CO2 = 50mmHg.
Lower Oesophageal Sphincter
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Very short, if you know the content you can get a pass pretty quickly
CO2 absorbers and risks
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Amsorb sounds pretty good
Pneumotachograph
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Not been asked for a while, much easier to approach and understand this question once you have a good grasp of viscosity/density and laminar/turbulent...
Renal handling of glucose, physiological consequences of glycosuria
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Graph with glucose flux on y axis and plasma glucose on x axis
Aldosterone and cortisol
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Also asked as mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids
Oral hypoglycaemic drugs
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are probably more but this is enough for me
How LAs prevent conduction of action potentials
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of different terminology for the states of VDNaC and the gates. Voltage = M gate (outer gate). Time = H gate (inner gate). Resting = closed M ope...
PaCO2 and ETCO2 difference
23 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Almost complete credit to Stan Tay at adrenaline memories.
Dexmedetomidine
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most of this answer is in PD
ACEi/ARB therapeutic and adverse effects
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Draw the flowchart from angiotensinogen onwards
Metabolic acidosis in hypovolaemic shock
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Breadth over depth
Tissue demand for O2 and cardiac output
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Adrenaline memories answer very good. I changed some of the headings to simplify it with how I understand it. The key is understanding the difference ...
Ultrasound
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A hard one to do in 10 mins but thankfully examiners report says Doppler and CO measurement are “extra marks” rather than pass marks.
Viscosity and density
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn those formulas and effect of temperature (common MCQ)
Skin antiseptic agents
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Povidine iodine and alcoholic chlorhexidine. This is a 2-3/5 answer. Apart from knowing that I shouldn’t inject chlorhex into someone’s spinal cor...
500ml of 20% mannitol: CNS/CVS/renal effects
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is a good starting point and probably a pass as per examiners reports, but if you get time then add more detail (e.g. baroreceptor reflexes to vo...
Structure and function of the NMDA receptor
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Get the headings down and the rest will follow
How the body handles a metabolic acidosis
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Renal and acid base will be the death of me
Blood brain barrier
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Na+ transport passive as per Power and Kam. Doesn’t make sense to me but it’s a recommended text so going to run with it 👍🏽
LV myocardial O2 supply and demand
09 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hard one to do in 10 mins, practice practice practice
Respiratory changes in obesity
09 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Keep it simple stupid
Right lateral position ventilation and perfusion
09 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Graph from ketamine nightmares is elite for understanding but not sure I would have time to draw three graphs. Could do the full table for VQ at dead ...
Cerebral effects of prolonged anaesthesia in steep head down
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Model answers not ideal so came up with my own, tried to keep it simple
EEG awake features and quantitative monitors (BIS and entropy)
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mainly from Stan Tay at Adrenaline Memories
Humidification by respiratory system and HME
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Makeup question by ex chair of examiners. Answer based off a friend’s answer (Matt Avery) that she gave a 5/5 to!
ROTEM physiology and hyperfibrinolysis
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Graph very important. TEG probably simpler but I chose ROTEM because it’s what they actually use at work and this exam is all about becoming a bette...
Right internal jugular CVC anatomy
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Has been asked both as a written SAQ and with a booklet containing images and shorter questions
Paracetamol mechanism, metabolism, toxicity
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Serotonergic, COX3, endogenous cannabinoids. Management of toxicity to be covered in another episode.
Hypothalamus
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
At the start I think it’s worth putting abbreviations to denote A for anterior, P for posterior, M for medial, L for lateral
O2 and CO2 Hb dissociation curves
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Look up a diagram. Best one I could find was Ketamine Nightmares (had both on same axes and content rather than saturation %). Also correction that bi...
CVS and respiratory effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pretty rude of the surgeons to impose this on us, don’t you think?
Physiological effects of 2L CSL
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Minor error where I said Cl content increases the strong ion difference but actually it decreases it… my bad (Stewart approach 🤦♂️). But s...
PK for onset and offset of local anaesthetics
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An annoyingly broad question that asked for the onset and offset, also didn’t specify topical or subcutaneous or nerve block. A narrower scope would...
CVS effects of central neuraxial blockade
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A good one to practice. Those CVS reflexes at the end are tricky.
Morbid obesity washout of inhalational anaesthesia
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Numbers for equilibration of compartments refer to 3 time constants (not half lives) and are from Hemmings and Egan. Sevo 2 min FRC, 9 min VRG, 7 hrs ...
Propofol and remifentanil TCI
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nail your definitions, graph, table, and learn the numbers for effect site concentrations
Safety features of vaporisers
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone use TIVA so that this is out of the syllabus ASAP or at least only given as much importance as knowing that ether has a BGPC of 12
How inhalational anaesthetics cause loss of consciousness
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is a 2/5 probably needs more examples and detail
ECG normal values and PR interval
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Look up a diagram
Cerebral Blood Flow
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A really hard one to get done in 10 mins especially if you include graphs. Focus on answering the question.
Succinylcholine adverse effects
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes I think study sux 😂
Immunological effects of PRBCs
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Breadth over depth
10xPRBC adverse effects
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Re alloimmunisation it’s worth adding possible future transfusion reactions as well as haemolytic disease of the newborn
Environmental effects of anaesthetics
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kudos to all the TIVA divas, imagine in 20 years time if pharmacokinetics of volatiles isn’t in the syllabus 🤯
Spinal cord perfusion
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
YouTube was helpful for learning to pronounce Adamkiewicz
O2 transport alveoli to tissues
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A hard one to do in 10 mins. Breadth over depth. Look up an oxygen cascade diagram for the intro if you don’t have one in your head.
CVS changes in morbid obesity
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
99% of this from Stan Tay at adrenaline memories
Oliguria in hypovolaemic shock
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This one was a mouthful and I think I absolutely butchered the Starling equation
Blood groupings
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My blood group is B+
Sleep: CNS and respiratory effects
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why do I need to know this? A) because patients think we put them to sleep so we should know what sleep is B) because we need to pass the exam and it'...
Prostaglandin effects on smooth muscle
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A really gross question that I might update my answer to at some point...
Adding PEEP to IPPV
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you don't set your airway pressures to multiples of five or even numbers, we cannot be friends.
Pharmacodynamics of propofol (excluding CNS)
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Go to sleep but what else?
Onset of blockade of a major peripheral nerve with LA
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Not sure if A2 agonist/opioids actually speed up onset of block, I couldn't find a source to confirm or deny...
Neonatal airway anatomy
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
So small and so cute but being a nose breather and having tiny nostrils is a bit silly (I would absolutely do the same to constantly feed though)
PCA morphine fentanyl
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When your block didn't work!
Exhaled CO2 infrared analysis
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Where does the capnograph come from?
CVS changes with ageing
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Attenuated with training, such as cycling for anaesthetists (also a great way to procrastinate study)
Circle breathing system
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is it really a circle or is it more like a polygon? Look up/make sure you can draw a diagram for this one.
ANS heart and cardiac function
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
LubDub
Amiodarone
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How to get out of that MET call for AF after 2 hrs of standing around
NDMR adverse effects
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stop moving
Acute to chronic pain
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ouch. Thanks to Lauren Foster for suggesting this answer should include opioids increasing chronic pain by NMDA agonism, increased spinal dysnorphins,...
Acute management of HTN in pregnancy
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eclampsia is bad
Cardiac action potentials
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Look up fast vs slow response diagram to supplement this episode