Structures for SAQs

Structured answers are vital:

• Structure aids both learning and recall of information
• A structured format is easy to follow less likely to irritate the drunk/tired/hungover mind of the examiner
• You may get marks for incomplete answers if your structure demonstrates you have an understanding of the topic, even if the details are not filled in

Some questions lend themselves more easily to a particular structure than others, but all questions can be made to fit even a basic structure.

Regulation of Physiological Responses

• Sensor
• Integration
• Effector

Change in Level of a Substance

• Intake
• Distribution
• Elimination

Compare and Contrast (Drugs)

• Class
• Pharmaceutics
  • Uses
  • Chemical
  • Presentation
  • Heat/light stability
  • Routes of administration
  • Doses
• Pharmacokinetics
  • Absorption
  • Distribution
  • Metabolism
  • Elimination
• Pharmacodynamics
  • Main Action
  • Mode of Action
  • Effects (See the physiological approach)
  • Side Effects
  • Toxic effects
    • Allergic
    • Dose-dependent
    • Idiopathic
    • Drug interactions

Describe Why Two Drugs are Used in Combination

• Definition
  Brief, of each drug.
  • Consider the components of anaesthesia that each provides
• Pharmacokinetics
  • Interactions
  • Relative onset
  • Metabolism
    • No effect/Induces/Inhibits
  • Elimination
• Pharmacodynamics
  • Isobologram
    Synergistic/additive/antagonistic.
  • Then list the effects of each drug, and how they are modified by the other
    • e.g. if drugs are synergistic, then decreased doses will be required
      • Increases beneficial effects
      • Decreases adverse effects

Describe the Physiology of...

• Respiratory
  • Bronchodilation/constriction
  • Vasodilation/constriction
  • V_T
  • RR
  • Secretion
  • Laryngeal reflexes
• CVS
  • Preload
  • Contractility/Pump effects
    • Inotropy
    • Chronotropy/rhythm
    • Dromotropy
    • Lusitropy
    • Bathmotropy
    • Nodal effects
    • Coronary Blood Flow
  • Afterload/Pipe effects
    • SBP
    • DBP
    • MAP
    • SVR
    • PVR
  • Intraarterial injection
• CNS
  • Sedation
  • Analgesia
  • Pro/anticonvulsant
  • Amnestic
  • Cerebral Metabolic Rate
  • Cerebral Blood Flow
  • ICP
  • IOP
• Musculocutaneous
  • Blood Flow
  • NMJ
• Endocrine
  • Gynaecomastia
  • Hair
  • Bone
• Renal and GU
  • Renal Blood Flow
  • Nephrotoxicity
  • Bladder tone
  • Uterine tone
• GIT and Hepatic
  • Hepatotoxicity/LFTs
  • Secretions
  • Gastric emptying
  • N/V/D/C
• Haematological
  • G6PD
  • Porphyrias
  • Bone marrow effects
• Immunological
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Histaminergic
  • Neutrophil function
• Metabolic

Anatomical Structure

• Anatomy of the structure
• Relationships
• Relevant surface anatomy
• Layers of dissection

Physics and Measurement

• Definition
• Uses
• Physical principles
• Components
• Calibration
• Advantages/Disadvantages

References

• Dr. Podcast
• Wisdom from drunk, tired, and/or hungover examiners.