CICM Second Part Exam Practice SAQs 20042016

Here are the practice questions from today’s written exam practice session at The Alfred ICU, with recommended reading from Lifeinthefastlane.com’s Critical Care Compendium and other FOAM sources:

Q1.

A previously well 26 year-old male presented with status epilepticus requiring intubation.

a) Define status epilepticus (10%)

b) Describe and interpret his chest radiograph below (30%)

From Lifeinthefastlane.com (see link below)

c) List the important parts of the body that should be examined to help determine the underlying cause. (30%)

Blood tests were performed, including a serum bHCG.

d) List 2 reasons why the serum bHCG may be elevated (10%)

The patient subsequently received specific therapy  for the underlying cause. This was complicated by a drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

e) List 4 medications that are important causes of pulmonary fibrosis, including the agent most likely in this case (20%)

Learn more here:

Q2.

Discuss the role of enhanced elimination techniques in critically ill poisoned patients.

(100%)

Learn more here:

Q3.

Regarding pulmonary artery catheters (PACs):

a) Draw the normal pressure-time waveforms, with pressures labelled on the y-axis, as the PAC pressure transducer passes through the following anatomic locations:

i) Right atrium
ii) Right ventricle
iii) Pulmonary artery (not ‘wedged’)
iV) Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP, aka ‘wedge’ pressure)

(40%)

b) Describe how pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP, aka ‘wedge’ pressure) is measured, including an explanation of why it is used as a surrogate for left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP)

(30%)

c) List the key aspects of the management of a patient who develops significant pulmonary haemorrhage following measurement of the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure

(30%)

Learn more here:



You can access all the previous practice questions since 2014 here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Ta8IvVaVtc5Il7-kJwj6qKGu54OmifJGRUWCXud8dY/edit
See this link on INTENSIVE for exam resources:
https://intensiveblog.com/resources/#3

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