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Anesthesiology Anesthesiology curriculum =========================== Conquer Anesthesiology Boards with Calm Confidence Core Advanced Anesthesiology Core Pathway ### Basic Sciences 2,168 questions #### Anatomy for anesthesia (airway, neuraxial, vascular, regional) 50 - Neuraxial anatomy and dermatomes - Dermatome and block height assessment 4 - Meninges and CSF spaces 4 - Vertebral column and ligamentous structures 4 - Peripheral nerve anatomy (regional anesthesia essentials) - Brachial plexus overview 5 - Lower limb plexuses 5 - Truncal blocks anatomy 5 - Upper airway anatomy and airway assessment landmarks - Airway examination correlates 5 - Nasal and oral cavity anatomy 4 - Pharynx and larynx anatomy 5 - Vascular access anatomy - Arterial access anatomy 4 - Central venous anatomy 5 #### Anatomy, Surgical Anatomy & Pelvic Support 70 Gross and applied anatomy relevant to obstetrics, gynecology, pelvic surgery, continence/prolapse, a... - Adnexa and tubo-ovarian anatomy - Broad ligament spaces and adnexal torsion anatomy 2 - Fallopian tube segments and function 3 - Ovary—blood supply and surgical implications 2 - Parametrium and ureteric course 2 - Pelvic sidewall landmarks 3 - Bony pelvis, pelvic diameters, and obstetric biomechanics - Anatomy relevant to operative vaginal birth 3 - Maternal pelvis shapes and relevance 3 - Mechanisms of labor and fetal head molding 3 - Pelvic floor interaction with birth 3 - Pelvimetry concepts and clinical utility 2 - Breast anatomy and lactation-relevant structures - Breast ducts, lobules, and lymphatics 3 - Breast imaging anatomy correlation 2 - Nipple–areolar complex anatomy 3 - Physiology-anatomy interface in lactation 3 - Surgical anatomy (duct excision, abscess drainage) basics 3 - Pelvic floor, continence mechanisms and anorectal anatomy - Anal sphincter complex 4 - Levator ani and fascial supports 3 - Lower urinary tract anatomy 2 - Neurovascular anatomy relevant to pelvic pain 3 - Perineum and episiotomy landmarks 3 - Uterus, cervix, vagina and vulva—applied anatomy - Cervical anatomy and transformation zone 2 - Lymphatic drainage of lower genital tract 3 - Uterine layers and supporting ligaments 3 - Vaginal anatomy and fornices 3 - Vulvar anatomy 4 #### Applied Anatomy for Emergency Care 117 Regional anatomy relevant to resuscitation, procedures, and time-critical diagnosis. - Abdominal and pelvic anatomy for acute abdomen - Appendix, bowel, mesentery 5 - Genitourinary anatomy 5 - Hepatobiliary and pancreatic anatomy 5 - Pelvic anatomy and hemorrhage 3 - Peritoneal spaces and referred pain 5 - Airway, neck, and upper aerodigestive anatomy - Airway edema/obstruction implications 5 - Larynx and trachea 4 - Neck vascular/nerve structures 4 - Surgical airway anatomy (foundational) 4 - Upper airway landmarks 5 - Musculoskeletal compartments and vascular anatomy - Compartment syndrome anatomy 4 - Fracture patterns and growth plates (intro) 5 - Major joints: stability and reduction basics 5 - Ultrasound-relevant vascular anatomy 5 - Vascular anatomy for hemorrhage control 5 - Neuroanatomy and spinal anatomy for EM - Cerebral vascular territories (exam-relevant) 5 - Intracranial compartments and herniation 4 - Ocular and orbital anatomy 5 - Peripheral nerve anatomy for injuries/blocks 5 - Spinal cord/nerve root anatomy 5 - Thoracic anatomy and pleura - Chest wall, ribs, diaphragm 5 - Mediastinum and great vessels 6 - Pericardium and cardiac anatomy basics 5 - Pleural spaces and lung lobes 5 - Procedural anatomy (thoracic) 3 #### Biochemistry, Metabolism & Nutrition 37 Core metabolic pathways, organ metabolism, and clinically important deficiencies/excesses. - Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (clinically applied) - Glycolysis/gluconeogenesis concepts 3 - Inborn errors (overview) 4 - Lipid metabolism 3 - Obesity and insulin resistance 2 - Micronutrients and deficiency syndromes - Fat-soluble vitamins 3 - Refeeding syndrome 3 - Trace elements 3 - Water-soluble vitamins 3 - Protein metabolism and liver synthetic function - Albumin and oncotic pressure 4 - Amino acid metabolism 4 - Bilirubin metabolism 3 - Coagulation factors synthesis 2 #### Cardiovascular physiology and measurement 71 - Cardiac electrophysiology and ECG basics - Arrhythmia mechanisms (exam core) 5 - Cardiac action potentials 4 - Conduction system anatomy/physiology 5 - Defibrillation/cardioversion principles 5 - ECG interpretation for anesthesia 5 - Cardiac pump function and determinants of CO - Autonomic control of circulation 5 - Determinants of SVR and MAP 4 - Frank–Starling physiology 5 - Myocardial oxygen supply/demand 5 - Pressure–volume concepts 6 - Shock physiology (core principles) 5 - Oxygen transport and hemodynamic oxygenation metrics - Hemoglobin–oxygen dissociation curve 4 - Microcirculation basics 5 - Oxygen consumption and extraction 4 - Oxygen content and delivery 4 #### Cellular & Molecular Biology 43 Core cellular structure/function and signaling relevant to disease mechanisms and therapeutics. - Cell structure, organelles, and trafficking - Cell cycle, apoptosis, necrosis 3 - Cell–cell junctions and extracellular matrix 4 - Membrane structure & transport 4 - Organelles and key functions 4 - Oncogenesis fundamentals - Cancer immunology (intro) 3 - Carcinogenesis & exposures 3 - Hallmarks of cancer (board-level) 3 - Tumor suppressors and oncogenes 4 - Signal transduction & second messengers - Inflammation signaling 4 - Pharmacologic implications 3 - Receptor classes 4 - Second messengers 4 #### Clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, and evidence-based practice 55 Board-relevant study design, diagnostic testing performance, screening, clinical decision-making, an... - Basic statistics interpretation (board level) - Confidence intervals 3 - Hypothesis testing and p-values 3 - Inter-rater reliability and kappa 2 - Measures of central tendency and spread 3 - Regression basics (conceptual) 3 - Diagnostic test characteristics - Decision rules (e.g., PECARN concept) 3 - Interpreting lab reference ranges in pediatrics 3 - Likelihood ratios and post-test probability 2 - ROC curves and thresholds (conceptual) 2 - Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values 3 - Screening principles and prevention evidence - Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) 3 - Criteria for screening programs 4 - Ethics in evidence application 3 - Number needed to treat/harm 3 - Public health measures and outbreak basics 2 - Study designs and hierarchy of evidence - Diagnostic test studies 3 - Interventional studies (RCTs) 3 - Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) 2 - Quality improvement vs research (distinction) 3 - Systematic reviews and meta-analyses 2 #### Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (core) 76 Weight-based dosing, pediatric pharmacokinetics/dynamics, antimicrobial fundamentals, common drug cl... - Analgesia, sedation, and peri-procedural medications - Common agents and adverse effects 4 - Local anesthetics and toxicity 4 - Non-opioid analgesics 3 - Opioids and respiratory depression risk 3 - Procedural sedation core concepts 4 - Antimicrobial classes and selection (foundational) - Aminoglycosides and nephro/ototoxicity 2 - Antiviral/antifungal overview (core) 3 - Beta-lactams and cephalosporins 4 - Macrolides and atypical coverage 3 - MRSA agents (clindamycin, TMP-SMX, vancomycin, linezolid) 2 - Common pediatric chronic medication classes (core board level) - Antiepileptic drugs overview 3 - Asthma/allergy pharmacotherapy basics 4 - Cardiac medications basics 3 - Endocrine medications basics 3 - Psychotropic basics (overview) 3 - Pediatric dosing principles and medication safety - Adverse drug reaction types 3 - Medication reconciliation and error prevention 3 - Routes of administration and bioavailability 3 - Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) basics 3 - Weight-based dosing and dose limits 2 - Pediatric pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics - Absorption differences by age 3 - Distribution (body water/fat, protein binding) 3 - Elimination (renal maturation) 3 - Metabolism (hepatic enzymes) 2 - Pharmacogenomics basics (board overview) 3 #### Core anesthesia pharmacology (drug classes) 95 - Cardiovascular drugs commonly used in anesthesia - Antiarrhythmics (core familiarity) 4 - Antihypertensives and antianginals 5 - Vasopressors and inotropes 6 - Inhalational anesthetics - MAC and factors affecting MAC 6 - Organ effects and toxicity 6 - Special phenomena 5 - Uptake and distribution 4 - Intravenous induction agents and sedatives - Benzodiazepines 4 - Dexmedetomidine and alpha-2 agonists 4 - Etomidate 4 - Ketamine 5 - Propofol 5 - Neuromuscular blockers and reversal agents - Depolarizing blockade (succinylcholine) 4 - Monitoring and reversal 4 - NMJ physiology relevant to blockade 5 - Nondepolarizing blockade 4 - Opioids and adjunct analgesics - Adjuvant analgesics (exam-relevant) 4 - Common IV opioids in anesthesia 5 - Non-opioid analgesics (core) 5 - Opioid receptor pharmacology 6 #### Core Physiology and Pathophysiology 147 High-yield physiologic principles that underpin ED presentation patterns and first-line therapy. - Acid–base physiology and interpretation - Metabolic acidosis 4 - Metabolic alkalosis 5 - Osmolar gap and toxin clues 4 - Respiratory acidosis/alkalosis 5 - Systematic interpretation approach 5 - Inflammation, immunity, and sepsis pathobiology - Anaphylaxis physiology 5 - Coagulation-inflammation interface 5 - Fever physiology 4 - Host response to infection 6 - Vaccines, immunization status, and ED relevance 5 - Neurophysiology of consciousness, seizure, and delirium - Delirium and encephalopathy mechanisms 3 - Raised ICP physiology 4 - Reticular activating system and coma basics 6 - Seizure generation and termination (conceptual) 4 - Temperature and CNS function 5 - Oxygen delivery, shock physiology, and perfusion - Determinants of oxygen delivery 4 - Fluid responsiveness and endpoints 5 - Reperfusion and resuscitation complications 5 - Shock classification and physiology 6 - Vasopressors/inotropes physiology 6 - Renal physiology and electrolyte homeostasis - Acute kidney injury pathophysiology 6 - Calcium, magnesium, phosphate physiology 6 - Diuretics and renal pharmacodynamics (intro) 5 - Potassium physiology and membrane excitability 6 - Sodium and water balance 5 - Respiratory mechanics and gas exchange - Acid-base interplay in respiratory disease 4 - Hypoxemia mechanisms 5 - Ventilation strategy principles (intro) 5 - Ventilation vs oxygenation concepts 5 - Work of breathing and fatigue 4 #### Developmental physiology and anatomy 103 Age-dependent structure and function across fetal, neonatal, infant, child, and adolescent stages re... - GI, hepatic, and pancreatic developmental physiology - Bilirubin metabolism 2 - Feeding physiology and gastric emptying 4 - Gut microbiome concepts (board-relevant) 3 - Liver synthetic function and vitamin K 3 - Pancreatic function maturation 2 - Neurodevelopmental physiology (foundation) - Brain development timing and vulnerability 3 - Intracranial pressure basics 3 - Pain pathways and developmental differences 3 - Seizure physiology overview 3 - Sleep physiology across development 3 - Fetal-to-neonatal transition physiology - Cardiovascular transition and shunts 3 - Neonatal glucose homeostasis 3 - Placental to pulmonary gas exchange transition 3 - Respiratory adaptation 3 - Thermoregulation at birth 3 - Hematopoiesis and pediatric hemostasis basics - Age-based CBC norms 3 - Coagulation and bleeding evaluation foundations 3 - Hemoglobin switching and oxygen affinity 3 - Iron metabolism and erythropoiesis 3 - Transfusion medicine basics 4 - Pediatric cardiovascular physiology basics - Blood pressure norms and perfusion 3 - Cardiac output determinants by age 2 - Congenital heart physiology patterns 3 - Oxygen delivery and consumption 2 - Shock physiology overview 3 - Pediatric respiratory mechanics basics - Age-dependent airway anatomy 3 - Basic blood gas interpretation 4 - Pulmonary defense mechanisms 3 - Ventilation-perfusion relationships 3 - Work of breathing and fatigue 2 - Renal maturation and fluid homeostasis - Acid handling and bicarbonate physiology 3 - Neonatal electrolyte vulnerabilities 3 - Neonatal renal function and GFR maturation 3 - Urine output norms and interpretation 3 - Water balance regulation 3 #### Embryology, Fetal Development & Congenital Anomalies 42 Embryology and developmental physiology underpinning congenital anomalies and reproductive tract dis... - Gametogenesis, fertilization, implantation and early placentation - Amniotic fluid development and regulation 3 - Fertilization and early embryo development 2 - Implantation physiology and abnormal implantation 3 - Oogenesis and spermatogenesis essentials 3 - Placental development and cord formation 3 - Müllerian development and reproductive tract anomalies - Cervical insufficiency developmental considerations 2 - Congenital anomalies—screening principles 3 - Müllerian duct fusion and canalization 3 - Ovarian and testicular differentiation 3 - Urogenital sinus development 2 - Organogenesis and teratology timing - Common teratogens and patterns 5 - Congenital infection pathogenesis (TORCH concept) 3 - Critical periods of development 2 - Fetal growth regulation 2 - Placental transfer and fetal drug exposure 3 #### Emergency Pharmacology and Therapeutics 117 PK/PD and emergency drug classes frequently tested and used in ED resuscitation and symptom control. - Analgesia in emergency medicine - Ketamine for analgesia 3 - Non-opioid analgesics 5 - Opioid pharmacology and safe prescribing 6 - Pain syndromes and multimodal strategy 4 - Regional anesthesia principles (intro) 5 - Antimicrobials and stewardship essentials - Allergy, anaphylaxis, and cross-reactivity 5 - Antibiotic adverse effects 5 - Antiviral/antifungal (board-level) 5 - Empiric antibiotic selection principles 4 - High-yield ED syndromes (empiric) 4 - Cardiovascular and vasoactive medications - Antiarrhythmics and rate control 5 - Antihypertensives in emergencies 5 - Antithrombotics and reperfusion adjuncts 6 - Reversal agents (core overview) 5 - Vasopressors/inotropes 5 - Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics in the ED - Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination 4 - Drug interactions and adverse drug events 5 - Medication safety principles 5 - Onset/offset and context-sensitive half-time 5 - Pharmacogenomics and variability (board-level) 3 - Sedation, induction agents, and anxiolysis - Benzodiazepines 5 - Dexmedetomidine (board-level overview) 4 - Ketamine dissociation 4 - Procedural sedation safety 5 - Propofol and etomidate basics 5 #### Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Evidence-Based Medicine 45 Study design, bias, test performance, causality, and applying evidence to patient care. - Clinical guidelines and evidence synthesis - Ethics in research 3 - GRADE and strength of recommendation 3 - Implementation and de-implementation 3 - Systematic reviews/meta-analyses 3 - Diagnostic test interpretation - Bayesian reasoning 2 - Core measures 3 - ROC curves and thresholds 2 - Screening principles 3 - Study design and validity - Bias and confounding 3 - Causality and inference 3 - Interventional trials 3 - Observational designs 4 - Treatment effects and risk - Decision analysis basics 3 - Effect size measures 2 - Heterogeneity and subgroup analyses 3 - Time-to-event analysis 2 #### Fluids, electrolytes, and acid–base 83 Core calculations and physiologic reasoning for pediatric fluid management, electrolyte abnormalitie... - Calcium, magnesium, and phosphate disorders - Hypercalcemia differential and initial workup 2 - Hypomagnesemia and refractory hypokalemia/hypocalcemia 2 - Neonatal hypocalcemia (early/late) 3 - Phosphate abnormalities (refeeding, DKA) 3 - QT prolongation and electrolyte-related arrhythmias 3 - Acid–base disorders and interpretation - Bicarbonate therapy: indications and risks 4 - Metabolic acidosis differential (high vs normal anion gap) 4 - Metabolic alkalosis differential 3 - Respiratory acidosis/alkalosis scenarios 3 - Stepwise blood gas interpretation 3 - Hypernatremia in children - Central diabetes insipidus management 3 - Correction strategy and monitoring 3 - Etiologies and diagnostic approach 3 - Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus basics 2 - Neurologic complications of dysnatremias 2 - Hyponatremia in children - Acute symptomatic hyponatremia management 3 - Classification by volume status 3 - Osmotic demyelination risk 2 - Pseudohyponatremia and lab pitfalls 3 - SIADH approach 3 - Maintenance fluids and dehydration management - Assessment of dehydration severity 3 - Hypernatremic dehydration 2 - IV fluid bolus and deficit replacement 3 - Maintenance fluid calculation and composition 3 - Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) 2 - Potassium disorders (hypo/hyperkalemia) - Hyperkalemia emergency management 3 - Hyperkalemia recognition and ECG changes 3 - Hypokalemia causes and evaluation 2 - Renal tubular disorders related to potassium 3 - Replacement strategies and safety 2 #### Genetics & Genomics 31 Mendelian and complex genetics, genomic medicine, and clinically actionable variants. - Complex traits and gene–environment interaction - Epigenetics 3 - Microbiome (board-level concepts) 2 - Polygenic risk concepts 3 - Somatic mosaicism & clonal hematopoiesis 2 - Genomic testing in clinical practice - Ethical issues 2 - Pharmacogenomics 3 - Testing modalities 2 - Variant interpretation 3 - Mendelian inheritance and risk - Autosomal dominant patterns 3 - Autosomal recessive patterns 3 - Mitochondrial inheritance 2 - X-linked inheritance 3 #### Genetics and metabolism (introductory) 57 Foundations of inheritance, genetic testing, dysmorphology approach, and introductory inborn error r... - Dysmorphology and congenital anomaly approach - Approach to a dysmorphic child 3 - Common genetic syndromes (core list) 3 - Referral and multidisciplinary care 2 - Syndromic vs sequence vs association concepts 3 - Teratology basics 4 - Inborn errors: pattern recognition (intro) - Hypoglycemia patterns and ketones 3 - Lactic acidosis and mitochondrial disease overview 2 - Metabolic acidosis and hyperammonemia patterns 3 - Newborn with lethargy/vomiting after feeds 3 - Recurrent rhabdomyolysis and exercise intolerance 2 - Genetic testing modalities and indications - Ethical considerations in pediatric genetics 2 - Karyotype, microarray, and targeted panels 3 - Newborn screening follow-up basics 3 - Prenatal testing concepts (board-level) 2 - Single-gene sequencing and exome/genome sequencing 3 - Patterns of inheritance and pedigree interpretation - Autosomal dominant/recessive patterns 3 - Chromosomal abnormalities overview 4 - De novo variants and recurrence risk 3 - Multifactorial inheritance and risk 3 - X-linked and mitochondrial inheritance 3 #### Genetics, Immunology, Hematology & Teratology 65 Genetic principles, prenatal screening/diagnosis frameworks, immunohematology (Rh), and teratology r... - Genetic inheritance and counseling fundamentals - Carrier screening concepts 4 - Chromosomal abnormalities and mechanisms 4 - Consanguinity and risk quantification basics 2 - Genetic test ethics and informed consent 3 - Patterns of inheritance 4 - Immunohematology and alloimmunization - Fetal anemia assessment principles 2 - Non-D antibodies and clinical relevance 3 - RhD immunization prevention 3 - Thrombophilia concepts 3 - Transfusion medicine basics in OB 4 - Prenatal screening and diagnostic testing - Aneuploidy screening modalities 3 - Diagnostic procedures principles 3 - Neural tube defect screening and diagnosis 4 - Non-immune hydrops framework 3 - Screening test performance interpretation 3 - Teratology and environmental exposures - Infections as teratogens (TORCH) 4 - Medication risk frameworks 3 - Occupational/environmental hazards 4 - Radiation exposure in pregnancy 3 - Substance use and fetal effects 3 #### Hematology, Transfusion, and Evidence-Based Medicine 94 Coagulation, transfusion science, and biostatistics/EBM essentials commonly assessed in EM training... - EBM in practice: guidelines, pathways, and stewardship - Antimicrobial and imaging stewardship 4 - Applying guidelines safely 3 - Critical incident literature appraisal (M&M style) 4 - Quality metrics vs patient-centered outcomes 4 - Screening and prevention in ED context 5 - Biostatistics and clinical epidemiology for EM - Bias, confounding, and validity 4 - Clinical prediction rules and implementation 6 - Diagnostic test performance 5 - Measures of effect and uncertainty 4 - Study designs and hierarchy of evidence 5 - Hemostasis and coagulation fundamentals - Bleeding risk stratification (conceptual) 4 - Coagulopathies in the ED 6 - Heparin/DOAC physiology and lab interpretation 5 - Primary vs secondary hemostasis 6 - Thrombosis physiology 5 - Transfusion medicine and massive hemorrhage basics - Blood products and indications 5 - Hemolysis and anemia emergencies 5 - Massive transfusion principles 5 - Rh/alloimmunization principles (ED-relevant) 4 - Transfusion reactions 5 #### Immunology & Inflammation 36 Innate/adaptive immunity, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, and transplant fundament... - Adaptive immunity - B cell biology and antibodies 4 - Hypersensitivity reactions 3 - T cell biology 3 - Vaccinology principles 2 - Autoimmunity and tolerance - Central and peripheral tolerance 3 - Immunodeficiency overview 3 - Systemic autoimmune disease mechanisms 3 - Transplant immunology (intro) 3 - Innate immunity and inflammation - Complement system 3 - Inflammation resolution 3 - Pattern recognition and cytokines 3 - Phagocytes and granulomatous inflammation 3 #### Immunology, inflammation, and allergy foundations 84 Fundamental immune mechanisms, hypersensitivity, primary immunodeficiency red flags, and vaccine imm... - Autoimmunity and immune dysregulation fundamentals - Autoantibodies and immune tolerance concepts 3 - Autoinflammatory syndromes (intro) 4 - Cytokine storm/HLH conceptual bridge 3 - Cytopenias and autoimmune disease links 3 - Immune-mediated kidney and skin disease examples 3 - Hypersensitivity and allergic disease mechanisms - Atopic disease spectrum 4 - Drug allergy vs intolerance 3 - Food allergy mechanisms and tolerance 4 - Type I (IgE-mediated) reactions 4 - Type II/III/IV hypersensitivity examples 4 - Innate and adaptive immune system basics - Adaptive immunity components 4 - Complement system basics 3 - Inflammation resolution and chronic inflammation 3 - Innate immunity components 4 - Mucosal immunity and IgA 3 - Primary immunodeficiency (PID) overview and red flags - Basic lab evaluation of immune function 3 - Clinical warning signs and patterns 3 - Immunization considerations in immunocompromise 3 - Secondary immunodeficiency causes 3 - T-cell vs B-cell vs phagocyte vs complement defects 4 - Vaccine immunology foundations - Active vs passive immunity principles 3 - Adjuvants and immunogenicity 3 - Herd immunity and population impact (exam framing) 4 - Live attenuated vs inactivated vaccines 3 - Vaccine adverse events and safety systems 3 #### Maternal–Fetal Physiology, Placenta & Parturition 55 Pregnancy adaptations, uteroplacental unit physiology, and labor physiology essential for safe obste... - Maternal cardiovascular and hemodynamic adaptations - Blood pressure physiology across trimesters 3 - Changes in blood volume, CO, SVR 3 - Coagulation physiology (hypercoagulability) 2 - Postpartum hemodynamic shifts 3 - Uterine blood flow physiology 2 - Placental function, transport, and endocrine activity - Amniotic fluid dynamics 3 - Maternal–fetal immunology 2 - Placental endocrine hormones 3 - Placental transport mechanisms 3 - Umbilical and fetal circulation physiology 3 - Respiratory, renal, and acid–base physiology in pregnancy - GI/hepatic adaptations 3 - Hematologic adaptations beyond coagulation 3 - Renal changes and lab interpretation 3 - Thermoregulation and skin changes 3 - Ventilatory changes and ABG interpretation 2 - Uterine contractility and cervical remodeling - Cervical ripening mechanisms 3 - Lactation physiology 3 - Myometrial excitation–contraction coupling 2 - Postpartum uterine involution 2 - Stages of labor physiology 4 #### Neurophysiology, autonomics, and thermoregulation 43 - Autonomic nervous system and reflexes - Autonomic failure and dysautonomia 6 - Key perioperative reflexes 5 - Sympathetic vs parasympathetic physiology 5 - Cerebral blood flow and intracranial dynamics - CBF regulation 5 - CSF production and drainage 4 - ICP physiology 4 - Thermoregulation and perioperative hypothermia - Anesthesia effects on temperature 5 - Complications of hypothermia 4 - Normal thermoregulatory control 5 #### Nutrition, growth biology, and metabolic fundamentals 76 Core pediatric nutrition and metabolism including breastfeeding, micronutrients, malnutrition, obesi... - Energy metabolism and common IEM overview (intro) - Acute metabolic decompensation first steps 2 - Basic pathways (glycogen, FAO, urea cycle) 4 - Hypoglycemia differential by age 3 - Newborn screen concept and limitations 2 - When to refer for metabolic/genetic evaluation 3 - Failure to thrive (FTT) and malnutrition - Definitions and anthropometric assessment 3 - Differential diagnosis framework 3 - Initial evaluation and targeted testing 3 - Multidisciplinary management and safeguarding interface 3 - Nutritional rehabilitation 3 - Infant feeding (breastfeeding and formula) - Breast milk composition and benefits (exam framing) 2 - Complementary feeding and allergen introduction 4 - Feeding difficulties and red flags 3 - Formula types and indications 4 - Lactation management basics 3 - Micronutrients and deficiency states - Iodine and thyroid development 3 - Iron deficiency and anemia prevention 2 - Vitamin A, E, K deficiencies (board-relevant) 4 - Vitamin D and calcium 4 - Zinc and trace elements 3 - Pediatric obesity and metabolic risk - BMI classification and staging 4 - Lifestyle intervention fundamentals 2 - Metabolic syndrome and NAFLD overview 3 - Obesity pharmacotherapy and bariatric basics (board overview) 3 - Weight stigma and counseling skills 3 #### Pathology & General Pathophysiology 35 General injury, repair, vascular pathology, thrombosis, and systemic responses to illness. - Cell injury and adaptation - Amyloidosis (overview) 3 - Edema and effusions pathophysiology 3 - Inflammation and repair 3 - Reversible vs irreversible injury 3 - Fever, SIRS, and sepsis biology - Biomarkers (concepts) 3 - Cytokine-mediated shock 3 - Organ dysfunction mechanisms 3 - Stress response and endocrine changes 3 - Hemostasis and thrombosis (mechanisms) - Atherosclerosis & aneurysm pathophysiology 3 - Coagulation cascade (clinical interpretation) 3 - Platelet biology 2 - Thrombosis and embolism 3 #### Pathology, Neoplasia, and Breast Pathology Foundations 73 Core gynecologic and obstetric pathology and tumor biology underpinning screening, diagnosis, and in... - Inflammation, infection, and tissue response basics - Acute vs chronic inflammation patterns 2 - Necrosis patterns relevant to OB-GYN 3 - Pathology specimen handling basics 3 - Thrombosis and embolism concepts 3 - Wound healing and scar formation 3 - Breast pathology foundations for OB-GYN - Benign breast disease 3 - Breast cancer basics for generalists 3 - Breast screening and pathology correlation 4 - High-risk lesions overview 3 - Lactation-related breast conditions 3 - Cervical pathology and HPV-mediated disease - CIN/HSIL/LSIL pathologic correlates 3 - Cytology and histology interpretation basics 3 - HPV biology and carcinogenesis 3 - Invasive cervical cancer—histology overview 3 - Vaginal/vulvar intraepithelial lesions basics 3 - Endometrial pathology and AUB foundations - Benign uterine pathology 3 - Endometrial carcinoma basics (Type 1 vs Type 2) 3 - Endometrial hyperplasia classification concepts 2 - Gestational endometrium and retained products concepts 3 - Uterine sarcomas overview 3 - Ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal tumors—foundations - Borderline tumors concepts 2 - Fallopian tube origin hypothesis for HGSC 3 - GTD pathology overview 3 - Ovarian tumor classification overview 3 - Tumor markers basics 3 #### Pharmacology fundamentals (PK/PD and drug handling) 61 - Pharmacodynamics and receptor theory - Dose–response relationships 4 - Drug interactions 5 - Pharmacogenomics (core testables) 5 - Receptor types and signaling 5 - Pharmacokinetics core concepts - Bioavailability and first-pass metabolism 5 - Compartment models and parameters 6 - Organ failure effects on PK 5 - Redistribution and tissue uptake 4 - Special populations 5 - Toxicology and adverse drug reactions - Dose-related vs idiosyncratic reactions 4 - Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (principles) 5 - Methemoglobinemia and CO toxicity (periop) 4 - Opioid toxicity and reversal 4 #### Pharmacology, Microbiology & Diagnostic Science (Core) 83 High-yield medication classes, antimicrobial principles, vaccination and infection concepts, plus di... - Diagnostic test interpretation and screening science - Bias and confounding in diagnostic studies 3 - Critical values and escalation thresholds 3 - Reference ranges and pregnancy-adjusted labs 3 - Screening program principles 3 - Test characteristics and Bayes theorem intuition 3 - Gynecologic pharmacology and contraception hormones - Antibiotics/antifungals commonly used in GYN 4 - Combined hormonal contraception (CHC) pharmacology 3 - Emergency contraception 2 - Menopause therapies 3 - Progestin-only methods 4 - Medication safety in pregnancy and lactation - Medication safety in breastfeeding 3 - Peripartum anesthesia/analgesia pharmacology basics 4 - Pharmacovigilance and counseling resources 4 - Principles of prescribing in pregnancy 3 - Teratogenic medication classes (core list) 4 - Microbiology, immunology and infection prevention - Immunization principles for OB-GYN 3 - Postoperative and postpartum infections 5 - Pregnancy infections 3 - STI microbiology essentials 3 - Vaginal microbiome and common vaginitis 4 - Obstetric medication classes - Diabetes medications in pregnancy 3 - Hypertension medications in pregnancy 3 - Thromboprophylaxis and anticoagulants 3 - Tocolytics and preterm birth meds 4 - Uterotonics and postpartum hemorrhage meds 3 #### Physics, measurement, mathematics, statistics (foundations) 56 - Radiation, MRI, and ultrasound physics (foundations) - Ionizing radiation basics 3 - MRI environment hazards 4 - Ultrasound fundamentals 4 - Electrical safety and basic electronics - Electrical hazards in OR 5 - Ohm’s law and power 5 - Flow, pressure, and resistance - Laminar vs turbulent flow 5 - Poiseuille and Bernoulli principles 5 - Gas laws and vapors relevant to anesthesia - Core gas laws 5 - Humidity and airway gas conditioning 5 - Vaporization concepts 5 - Mathematics, dosing, and basic statistics - Data interpretation basics 5 - Unit conversions and drug calculations 5 #### Physiology & Homeostasis 50 System physiology emphasizing integration and mechanisms behind common clinical syndromes. - Cardiovascular physiology - ECG electrophysiology basics 4 - Exercise physiology 3 - Hemodynamics and cardiac output 3 - Vascular biology 3 - Endocrine physiology - Calcium and bone metabolism 4 - Glucose homeostasis 4 - Hypothalamic–pituitary axes 3 - Thyroid hormone action 3 - Renal physiology & volume regulation - Acid–base renal handling 3 - Glomerular filtration and hemodynamics 3 - Tubular handling of electrolytes 3 - Water balance 3 - Respiratory physiology - Acid–base and respiratory compensation 3 - Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction 2 - Lung mechanics 3 - Ventilation/perfusion and gas exchange 3 #### Reproductive Endocrinology & Menstrual Cycle Physiology 45 Hormonal regulation across lifespan: puberty, cycle, pregnancy, lactation, menopause; core board phy... - Hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis regulation - Endometrial cycle and histology 3 - FSH/LH actions and ovarian steroidogenesis 3 - GnRH pulsatility and feedback loops 4 - Ovulation physiology and luteal phase 3 - Puberty physiology and normal variants 3 - Menopause and perimenopause physiology - Cardiometabolic changes around menopause 3 - Hormone therapy physiologic rationale and risks 4 - Ovarian aging and follicular depletion 3 - Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) physiology 2 - Urogenital atrophy (GSM) pathophysiology 3 - Pregnancy endocrine physiology - Calcium/vitamin D and bone metabolism 3 - hCG, corpus luteum rescue, and placental takeover 2 - Insulin resistance and metabolic adaptations 3 - Postpartum endocrine changes 3 - Thyroid physiology in pregnancy 3 #### Respiratory physiology and acid–base 73 - Acid–base and electrolytes (physiology foundations) - Anion gap and lactate interpretation 4 - Henderson–Hasselbalch and bicarbonate buffering 5 - Key electrolytes for anesthesia 5 - Stewart/strong ion approach (conceptual) 5 - Control of breathing and perioperative respiratory depression - Central and peripheral chemoreceptors 5 - Neuromuscular weakness and ventilation 4 - Ventilatory responses to anesthesia and opioids 4 - Gas exchange: diffusion, V/Q, shunt - Alveolar gas equation and A–a gradient 5 - CO2 transport and elimination 5 - Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) 4 - V/Q mismatch vs shunt vs diffusion limitation 5 - Lung volumes, compliance, resistance, and work of breathing - Airway resistance and flow 4 - Closing capacity and FRC 4 - PFT patterns for anesthesia 5 - Static and dynamic compliance 6 - Ventilation distribution and time constants 3 ### Clinical Anaesthesia 135 questions #### Airway and ventilation fundamentals (clinical application) 21 - Basic mechanical ventilation during anesthesia - Setting tidal volume, rate, FiO2, and PEEP 5 - Ventilator alarms and immediate responses 4 - Mask ventilation and supraglottic airway use - Positioning and airway maneuvers 4 - SGA selection and placement 4 - Troubleshooting ventilation 4 #### Common intraoperative problems and complications 41 - Hypotension and hypertension intraoperatively - Differential diagnosis approach 4 - Initial management principles 5 - Hypoxemia and ventilation problems - Systematic approach (DOPES/DOPE) 6 - Troubleshooting by monitors 5 - Perioperative hypothermia and shivering - Recognition and prevention 5 - Treatment of shivering 5 - Perioperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) - Prophylaxis and treatment classes 5 - Risk factors and risk scoring concepts 6 #### Conduct of general anesthesia (core workflow) 50 - Emergence and extubation - Common emergence complications 5 - Emergence planning 5 - Extubation criteria and technique 5 - Induction of anesthesia - Airway management during induction 5 - Induction complications 3 - IV induction technique selection 4 - Preoxygenation 5 - Maintenance of anesthesia - Balanced anesthesia and analgesia integration 5 - Neuromuscular blockade management 5 - TIVA principles 3 - Volatile anesthesia principles 5 #### Fluids, electrolytes, and blood (intraoperative basics) 23 - Blood products and transfusion basics - Blood conservation strategies (overview) 4 - Components and expected effects 5 - Transfusion reactions (recognize and act) 4 - Crystalloids and colloids - Common fluids and compositions 5 - Fluid therapy strategies (core concepts) 5 ### Critical Care And Pain 80 questions #### Core ICU physiology and organ support 52 - Nutrition and glycemic control (basics) - Enteral vs parenteral nutrition concepts 4 - Glycemic management principles 5 - Acid–base, electrolytes, and renal failure (ICU basics) - AKI and renal replacement overview 4 - Common ICU acid–base patterns 6 - Mechanical ventilation (ICU foundations) - ARDS concept and lung-protective ventilation 3 - Indications and basic settings 4 - Weaning and extubation readiness (intro) 4 - Sedation, analgesia, and delirium (ICU foundations) - Analgesia-first sedation concept 5 - Delirium recognition and prevention 4 - Shock and sepsis fundamentals - Basic infection management principles 4 - Sepsis physiology concepts 5 - Shock types and initial approach 4 #### Pain science and pain management foundations 28 - Chronic pain and palliative care concepts - Cancer pain and terminal symptom control (intro) 5 - Chronic pain syndrome overview 4 - Acute postoperative pain management - Multimodal analgesia planning 5 - Opioid stewardship basics 5 - Pain physiology - Neuropathic pain mechanisms (intro) 4 - Nociception pathways 5 ### Emergencies And Resuscitation 95 questions #### Airway emergencies and acute respiratory events 21 - Cannot intubate/cannot oxygenate (CICO) principles - Front-of-neck access (principles) 5 - Recognition and calling for help 5 - Laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and aspiration - Aspiration management 3 - Laryngospasm management 3 - Severe bronchospasm management 5 #### Core resuscitation algorithms and perioperative arrest 23 - BLS/ACLS fundamentals for anesthesiologists - ACLS medications (principles) 4 - High-quality CPR and defibrillation 4 - Perioperative cardiac arrest: anesthesia-specific causes - Airway and ventilation catastrophes 5 - Drug-related and allergic causes 5 - Hemorrhage and transfusion complications 5 #### Specific anesthesia crises (core board incidents) 37 - Anaphylaxis in the perioperative setting - Immediate treatment 5 - Post-crisis actions 4 - Recognition and differential 5 - Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) - Management 4 - Recognition 5 - Malignant hyperthermia (MH) - Immediate management 4 - Post-event ICU management 5 - Recognition 5 #### Trauma and shock (initial management for anesthesia trainees) 14 - Trauma assessment and hemorrhagic shock basics - Damage control resuscitation principles 4 - Primary survey concepts 6 - Trauma airway considerations 4 ### Equipment And Monitoring 189 questions #### Anesthesia workstation, gas supply, and breathing systems 53 - Anesthesia machine components and safety systems - Gas sources and pipeline/cylinder systems 6 - Low-pressure system leaks and checks 3 - O2 failure protection and alarms 4 - O2 flush and backbar 5 - Pressure regulators and flowmeters 5 - Breathing circuits and CO2 absorption - Circle system function 4 - CO2 absorbents and hazards 6 - Mapleson circuits and indications 4 - Pediatric circuit considerations 4 - Vaporizers and inhaled agent delivery - Desflurane and specialized vaporizers 4 - Low-flow anesthesia and gas analysis 3 - Variable bypass vaporizer design 5 #### Infusion devices, suction, and temperature management 23 - Suction systems - Suction types and troubleshooting 5 - Active warming and temperature monitoring devices - Temperature measurement sites 5 - Warming modalities 5 - Infusion pumps and syringe drivers - High-alert medication safety 4 - Pump mechanics and common errors 4 #### Safety, hazards, and OR environment 27 - Infection prevention and equipment reprocessing (OR basics) - Reusable equipment cleaning 5 - Standard precautions in anesthesia 5 - Medical gases, scavenging, and pollution - Environmental exposure and staff safety 4 - Scavenging systems 3 - Electrical, fire, and explosion safety - Electrical injury prevention 5 - OR fire triad and prevention 5 #### Standard and advanced monitoring (principles and troubleshooting) 54 - Blood pressure monitoring - Invasive arterial BP 5 - Noninvasive BP 4 - Capnography and gas analysis - Capnogram interpretation 4 - O2 and anesthetic agent analyzers 4 - Sampling systems and failure modes 4 - ECG monitoring - Lead systems and ischemia detection 4 - Pacing and defibrillation interface 5 - Neuromuscular monitoring and depth of anesthesia - Peripheral nerve stimulator patterns 5 - Processed EEG concepts 5 - Quantitative monitoring 4 - Pulse oximetry and plethysmography - Pleth waveform clinical use 5 - Principles and limitations 5 #### Ventilators, oxygenation, and airway equipment 32 - Airway devices and function checks - Endotracheal tubes and cuffs 5 - Facemask, oral/nasal airways, supraglottic airways 5 - Laryngoscopy and adjuncts 6 - Anesthesia ventilators (modes and mechanics) - Common modes used intraoperatively 5 - PEEP and recruitment concepts 6 - Ventilator failure and backup ventilation 5 ### Organ-Based Sciences 159 questions #### Cardiovascular disease pathophysiology for anesthesia 36 - Arrhythmias and conduction disease (periop significance) - Atrial fibrillation/flutter 5 - Bradyarrhythmias and blocks 4 - Ischemic heart disease and heart failure (foundations) - Periop implications (intro) 5 - Supply–demand mismatch and ischemia 5 - Systolic vs diastolic failure basics 5 - Valvular disease physiology (core patterns) - Aortic regurgitation 3 - Aortic stenosis 5 - Mitral stenosis/regurgitation 4 #### Hepatic, GI, hematologic, endocrine, and neuromuscular pathophysiology 62 - Endocrine and metabolic disease (periop physiology) - Adrenal physiology 6 - Diabetes physiology and stress response 5 - Thyroid disease physiology 5 - GI physiology and aspiration risk - Aspiration pneumonitis vs pneumonia 4 - Gastric emptying and reflux physiology 5 - Hemostasis and transfusion physiology (foundations) - Coagulation cascade and fibrinolysis 5 - Physiology of anemia and transfusion triggers (intro) 4 - Primary hemostasis 5 - Liver disease physiology for anesthesia - Drug metabolism implications 5 - Portal hypertension and ascites 5 - Synthetic dysfunction and coagulopathy 5 - Neuromuscular disorders and NMJ pathophysiology - Muscular dystrophy and rhabdomyolysis risk 4 - Myasthenia gravis and Lambert–Eaton 4 #### Renal, electrolyte, and fluid pathophysiology 29 - Acute kidney injury (AKI) concepts - Perioperative AKI risk factors 4 - Pre-renal, intrinsic, post-renal mechanisms 5 - Fluid compartments and edema physiology - Sodium and water disorders (overview) 5 - Starling forces and interstitial edema 6 - Renal physiology relevant to anesthesia - GFR and tubular handling basics 5 - Renal blood flow and autoregulation 4 #### Respiratory disease pathophysiology for anesthesia 32 - Obstructive lung disease (asthma/COPD) - Airflow obstruction mechanisms 5 - Perioperative triggers and prevention 4 - Ventilation strategies (principles) 4 - Obstructive sleep apnea and obesity hypoventilation - Pathophysiology affecting anesthesia 5 - Perioperative risk and monitoring principles 5 - Restrictive lung disease and pulmonary hypertension basics - Pulmonary hypertension (intro) 4 - Restrictive physiology (ILD) 5 ### Perioperative Medicine 121 questions #### Advanced perioperative evaluation and optimization 28 - Advanced cardiac risk assessment and testing (principles) - Perioperative medication optimization 4 - When to pursue further testing (conceptual) 5 - Perioperative anticoagulation and thrombosis management (advanced overview) - Balancing bleeding vs thrombosis risk 6 - Reversal and urgent surgery strategies 4 - Perioperative pulmonary optimization and risk reduction - Postoperative pulmonary complication prevention 4 - Smoking cessation and lung expansion strategies 5 #### Enhanced recovery and postoperative complications (consultant level) 23 - Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles - Core ERAS elements 5 - Implementation and multidisciplinary coordination 5 - Major postoperative complications: prevention and early management - AKI prevention and response 4 - Delirium and cognitive disorders 5 - Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) concept 4 #### Postoperative care and PACU management 29 - PACU handover and monitoring priorities - PACU complications recognition 6 - Structured handover content 6 - Postoperative analgesia planning (core) - Multimodal analgesia 5 - PCA principles 4 - Postoperative respiratory complications (core) - Opioid-induced ventilatory impairment (OIVI) 4 - Residual neuromuscular blockade 4 #### Preoperative assessment and optimization 41 - Perioperative medication management (foundations) - Anticoagulants/antiplatelets (intro) 5 - Cardiovascular meds 4 - Diabetes medications 4 - Preanesthetic evaluation and risk stratification - ASA physical status and limitations 4 - Common risk tools (conceptual familiarity) 5 - History and exam priorities 6 - Preoperative investigations and interpretation (core) - ECG interpretation for preop clearance 5 - Imaging and tests (when indicated) 4 - Labs: CBC, electrolytes, renal, coagulation 4 ### Professionalism And Safety 79 questions #### Communication, teamwork, wellbeing, and equity 30 - Equity, bias, and professionalism - Healthcare disparities relevant to anesthesia 6 - Implicit bias and mitigation 6 - Clinician fatigue, impairment, and wellbeing - Fatigue and performance 5 - Substance use disorder and impairment (professional duties) 4 - Team communication in perioperative care - Closed-loop communication and assertiveness 4 - Managing conflict and speaking up 5 #### Ethics, consent, and medicolegal essentials 21 - Documentation, disclosure, and medico-legal risk - Clinical documentation standards 3 - Open disclosure after adverse events (concept) 4 - Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) and perioperative goals of care - Required reconsideration concept 4 - Informed consent and decision-making capacity - Capacity and surrogate decision-making 5 - Elements of informed consent 5 #### Patient safety, human factors, and quality improvement 28 - Quality improvement (QI) basics - Incident reporting and learning systems 4 - QI methods and measurement 5 - Human factors and error science - Systems approach to safety 5 - Types of error and cognitive biases 6 - Medication safety in anesthesia - Common anesthesia medication errors 4 - Prevention strategies 4 ### Regional Anaesthesia 101 questions #### Local anesthetics and adjuvants (core pharmacology and safety) 27 - Local anesthetic pharmacology and dosing - Ester vs amide LAs 5 - Maximum dose principles 4 - Mechanism and differential blockade 4 - Regional anesthesia complications: prevention and first response - Infection and hematoma concepts 5 - LAST recognition and management 4 - Nerve injury mechanisms 5 #### Neuraxial anesthesia (spinal/epidural/CSE) 30 - Anticoagulation and neuraxial safety (principles) - Risk assessment approach 5 - Epidural anesthesia/analgesia - Complications and troubleshooting 5 - Placement and dosing strategies 5 - Spinal anesthesia technique and physiology - Drug choice and baricity 5 - Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) 5 - Sympathectomy and hypotension 5 #### Peripheral and truncal blocks (principles and common blocks) 31 - Truncal blocks for perioperative analgesia - Paravertebral and erector spinae plane blocks (intro) 4 - TAP, rectus sheath, ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric 5 - Lower extremity blocks - Fascia iliaca and hip analgesia concepts 5 - Femoral/adductor canal and sciatic blocks 5 - Upper extremity blocks - Brachial plexus approaches 5 - Distal nerve blocks 7 #### Ultrasound and nerve localization fundamentals 13 - Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia principles - Nerve stimulation basics (as adjunct) 4 - Probe handling and image optimization 5 - Safety and injection technique 4 Anesthesiology Advanced Pathway ### Advanced Clinical Practice 49 questions #### Complex airway management and oxygenation strategies 22 - Advanced oxygenation and ventilation rescue - Dynamic hyperinflation crisis 4 - Severe hypoxemia management 4 - Difficult airway strategy selection and planning - Awake intubation principles 4 - Extubation of the difficult airway 5 - RSI in high-risk patients 5 #### Hemodynamic optimization, transfusion, and advanced monitoring integration 27 - Advanced monitoring integration (exam-level) - Cardiac output monitoring concepts 4 - Central venous oxygen saturation and lactate 5 - Coagulation management and massive hemorrhage - Massive transfusion protocols (MTP) and targets 5 - Point-of-care coagulation testing (conceptual) 4 - Perioperative hypotension and shock: advanced approach - Physiology-driven differential and therapy 5 - Vasopressor/inotrope selection and titration 4 ### Advanced Sciences 59 questions #### Advanced pharmacology and physiology integration 23 - Advanced physiology under anesthesia (integrated) - Cardiorespiratory interactions 5 - Microcirculation and vasoplegia (concept) 5 - Advanced PK/PD in complex patients - Drug–drug interactions in polypharmacy 4 - Organ failure dosing strategies 4 - Pharmacogenomics and atypical responses 5 #### Advanced physics, devices, and measurement 23 - Ultrasound and echocardiography fundamentals for advanced exams - Basic perioperative echo concepts (not full TEE certification) 5 - Point-of-care ultrasound principles 4 - Advanced monitoring signal interpretation - Arterial waveform analysis (advanced basics) 5 - Capnography as diagnostic tool 4 - Processed EEG and EEG patterns (conceptual) 5 #### Evidence appraisal for guideline-based practice 13 - Clinical epidemiology and statistics for boards - Diagnostic test performance 4 - Effect sizes and interpretation 4 - Study designs and bias 5 ### Crisis Management 43 questions #### Crisis resource management (CRM) and leadership 15 - CRM principles in anesthesia crises - Debriefing and learning after events 5 - Leadership, communication, and task allocation 5 - Use of cognitive aids and checklists 5 #### High-stakes perioperative critical incidents (advanced oral-exam style) 28 - Airway catastrophes (advanced scenarios) - CICO escalation and front-of-neck access 3 - Peri-extubation airway obstruction 4 - Anaphylaxis, MH, LAST (advanced execution) - Drug dosing under pressure and infusion setup 5 - Post-crisis disposition and communication 5 - Massive hemorrhage and coagulopathy crisis leadership - Coagulopathy-directed therapy (conceptual) 5 - Early recognition and activation of MTP 6 ### Critical Care Medicine 56 questions #### Advanced shock, multi-organ failure, and renal replacement therapy 18 - CRRT and complex electrolyte management - Choosing modality and dosing (conceptual) 5 - Critical electrolyte disorders 5 - Vasopressor/inotrope strategies in shock - Cardiogenic shock basics (periop interface) 5 - Septic shock escalation 3 #### Advanced ventilatory support and respiratory failure 21 - ARDS and refractory hypoxemia management - Adjunct therapies (conceptual) 4 - ECMO basics (exam-level overview) 3 - Ventilation strategy refinement 4 - Weaning, extubation, and tracheostomy considerations - Post-extubation support strategies 5 - Weaning failure causes 5 #### ICU infection, sedation, nutrition, and ethics (advanced) 17 - Antimicrobial stewardship and ICU infections - Sepsis source control coordination 4 - VAP/CLABSI/CAUTI prevention concepts 5 - ICU ethics and end-of-life care - Goals-of-care discussions and capacity 5 - Withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (conceptual) 3 ### Non-Operating Room Care 30 questions #### Sedation/anesthesia outside the OR (environmental and clinical risk) 30 - ECT and procedural psychiatry anesthesia - ECT physiology and anesthetic technique 5 - General NORA principles and patient selection - Environment and emergency planning 4 - Sedation continuum and monitoring standards 4 - GI endoscopy, interventional radiology, and cath lab sedation - Cath lab/EP procedures anesthesia considerations 5 - Endoscopy sedation risks 4 - MRI anesthesia and sedation - Airway access limitations and planning 4 - MRI hazards and compatibility 4 ### Organ System Management 69 questions #### Advanced cardiovascular and pulmonary disease management 18 - Pulmonary hypertension and RV failure - Management principles 4 - Triggers of RV decompensation 5 - Severe heart failure and cardiomyopathy perioperative management - Intraop goals and rescue 4 - Preop assessment and optimization concepts 5 #### Advanced endocrine, renal, hepatic, neuro, and heme management 51 - Advanced hepatic failure and encephalopathy - Coagulopathy and bleeding/thrombosis balance 5 - Hepatic encephalopathy and sedative sensitivity 5 - Advanced renal failure and dialysis interface - ESRD perioperative considerations 4 - RRT complications (conceptual) 6 - Complex coagulation disorders - Anticoagulants and reversal strategies (advanced overview) 6 - Inherited bleeding disorders (overview) 4 - Endocrine crises (board-relevant) - DKA/HHS periop stabilization 4 - Pheochromocytoma periop hemodynamics (conceptual) 3 - Thyroid storm and myxedema coma (recognize/initial treat) 5 - Neurologic emergencies (periop) - Acute stroke periop considerations (concept) 3 - Increased ICP and herniation risk management 6 ### Pain Medicine 41 questions #### Acute pain, complex postoperative pain, and opioid stewardship 13 - Complex acute pain management (perioperative and ICU) - Opioid-related harm reduction 4 - Opioid-tolerant and opioid use disorder patients 4 - Regional analgesia and catheter management 5 #### Chronic pain syndromes and interventional concepts (board-oriented) 18 - Interventional pain (conceptual awareness for anesthesia boards) - Common procedures and indications (overview) 5 - Complications and safety 4 - Neuropathic pain and common syndromes - Central sensitization syndromes (overview) 5 - Peripheral neuropathic pain 4 #### Palliative care and cancer pain 10 - Cancer pain management principles - Opioids and adjuvants in cancer pain 5 - Terminal symptom control 5 ### Perioperative Medicine 121 questions #### Advanced perioperative evaluation and optimization 28 - Advanced cardiac risk assessment and testing (principles) - Perioperative medication optimization 4 - When to pursue further testing (conceptual) 5 - Perioperative anticoagulation and thrombosis management (advanced overview) - Balancing bleeding vs thrombosis risk 6 - Reversal and urgent surgery strategies 4 - Perioperative pulmonary optimization and risk reduction - Postoperative pulmonary complication prevention 4 - Smoking cessation and lung expansion strategies 5 #### Enhanced recovery and postoperative complications (consultant level) 23 - Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles - Core ERAS elements 5 - Implementation and multidisciplinary coordination 5 - Major postoperative complications: prevention and early management - AKI prevention and response 4 - Delirium and cognitive disorders 5 - Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) concept 4 #### Postoperative care and PACU management 29 - PACU handover and monitoring priorities - PACU complications recognition 6 - Structured handover content 6 - Postoperative analgesia planning (core) - Multimodal analgesia 5 - PCA principles 4 - Postoperative respiratory complications (core) - Opioid-induced ventilatory impairment (OIVI) 4 - Residual neuromuscular blockade 4 #### Preoperative assessment and optimization 41 - Perioperative medication management (foundations) - Anticoagulants/antiplatelets (intro) 5 - Cardiovascular meds 4 - Diabetes medications 4 - Preanesthetic evaluation and risk stratification - ASA physical status and limitations 4 - Common risk tools (conceptual familiarity) 5 - History and exam priorities 6 - Preoperative investigations and interpretation (core) - ECG interpretation for preop clearance 5 - Imaging and tests (when indicated) 4 - Labs: CBC, electrolytes, renal, coagulation 4 ### Quality And Professional Practice 43 questions #### Ethics, professionalism, equity, and practice management (advanced) 22 - Equity-focused professional practice - Reducing disparities in perioperative outcomes 4 - Practice management and medico-legal readiness (overview) - Credentialing and maintenance of competence (concept) 5 - Documentation quality and billing integrity (conceptual) 5 - Complex ethical scenarios in perioperative care - Refusal of blood products and capacity 4 - Resource allocation and triage (concept) 4 #### Governance, regulation, and systems-based practice 21 - Clinical governance and quality systems - Incident investigation and risk management 5 - Quality measurement and improvement at department level 5 - Scope of practice, supervision, and education - Supervision and delegation in anesthesia care teams 5 - Teaching and assessment responsibilities 6 ### Subspecialty Anaesthesia 83 questions #### High-yield subspecialty surgery anesthesia 83 - Cardiac and major vascular anesthesia (exam-level overview) - Aortic surgery and cross-clamping physiology 5 - CABG/valve surgery physiology concepts 5 - Endovascular procedures (EVAR/TEVAR) considerations 5 - ENT/shared airway and ophthalmic anesthesia - Ophthalmic-specific reflexes and considerations 4 - Shared airway management 5 - Neurosurgical anesthesia - Craniotomy physiology and goals 4 - Spine surgery considerations 5 - Obstetric anesthesia - Labor analgesia and neuraxial anesthesia 6 - Obstetric emergencies (exam core) 5 - Physiologic changes of pregnancy relevant to anesthesia 4 - Orthopedic, trauma, burns, and ambulatory anesthesia - Ambulatory anesthesia patient selection and discharge 6 - Burns anesthesia considerations 3 - Major joint arthroplasty considerations 4 - Trauma anesthesia (advanced emphasis) 4 - Pediatric anesthesia - Pediatric airway and physiology differences 5 - Pediatric induction and emergence 4 - Thoracic anesthesia and one-lung ventilation - Hypoxemia during OLV 4 - Lung isolation devices and confirmation 5 [ View Anesthesiology ](https://mdster.com/speciality/anesthesiology) [ View pricing ](https://mdster.com/pricing) [ MDster home ](/ "MDster home") Master your medical exams with evidence-based learning. 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