A special feature for trainees (under that tab) for their final exams – here’s hoping there was great success in the final exams recently.

Another in the 50 SHADES series on the fascinating discipline of statistics. The presentation is a quicktime of the slideshow on statistics.

It concludes with a number of lifehack recommendations regarding performance gold: what to do when you cannot study anymore…watch a few of these TED talks on body language, confidence, happiness, vulnerability and emotional hygiene! What’s not to like?!

In this video, Dr Rai gives her perspective on the final exams. She goes through all sections with strategies and tips on approaches to these.

Her particular approach to minimising post-exam stresses and where to seek support should be very valuable to all trainees.

See also the Anaesthesia trainees section.

Jennifer Howie sat her final Fellowship Anaesthesia exams in 2015.

In this interview she shares study tips, her run-up to the exam and how she prepared for it.

In other parts of the interview, she “walks though” each section of the exam and shares her impressions of how to best navigate a successful path through the maze of so many options for preparation…

There are also notes on sub-specialty terms and the exam logistics.

Dr. Howie concludes her interview noting that the ANZCA secretariat and invigilators are there for the candidates and do everything ensure the smooth running of the process and  to minimise the  stress on the day for all involved. Here it is!

A final examination preparation boot camp is scheduled to be held in Canberra in February 6-7, 2016 in the ACT on the campus of John James Hospital, Deakin. All candidates for the final Fellowship exam are welcome.

The Australian Society of Anaesthetists is kindly assisting this weekend with logistical support and publicity. All details,  and registration are available via the ASA website  under the Upcoming Events tab.

The John James Foundation is a leading medical charity in Canberra that has donated the use of their theaterette and breakout rooms facility at the hospital for the weekend for our use.

Four real life current examiners will be presenting at this weekend – come along and polish your presentation skills prior to the exams! What a great way to start the year.

See you there!

A walk through examination radiology together with presenter’s notes (published under the Anaesthetic trainees tab). A composition using some excellent on-line references with acknowledgements.

Supposedly, the first x-ray was of Roentgen’s wife’s hand shown on the cover of his publication.

Under the trainee tab, a new menu: “CARDIOLOGY” contains the latest in the 50 shades series.

FANZCA candidates are preparing for their second part exams. Some excellent sessions for trainees as well as consultants were presented at the Darwin Combined Scientific Congress this month.

All of the refreshers, plenaries and GASACT sessions will be soon be available via a link on the ASA website asa.org.au as a member benefit.

An unscheduled viva session was conducted which included viva practice as well as rapid-fire questions – see the link at https://vimeo.com/140624260 under the “ANAESTHESIA TRAINEES” tab.

Darwin Scientific Congress – experience it again!

A combined ASA and NZSA meeting occurs every 5 years. Darwin Convention Centre was a outstanding venue for a great meeting. Refresher courses, workshops, opportunities to complete mandatory emergency responses and other optional CPD activities were of a very high standard.

Our own South Australian Professor John West (now from San Diego) lived up to “legend” status and did not disappoint. The other Northern Territory, National and International presenters and participants came together to remind us that our specialty has a strong academic, scientific and collegiate foundation and future.

For the first time, all of the plenaries, refreshers and some of the other sessions were recorded as either full video or as audio synched with slides. As a conference and member benefit, ASA members will be able to view and re-view these via a link on the ASA website asa.org.au

We are all looking forward to next ASA conference in Melbourne in 2016!

The inaugural Masterclass on the subject of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) on 14 July was held in Canberra. Drs Taboada and Martinez made a return visit to Australia and Canberra after their very successful tour in 2013 for the ASA National Scientific Congress in Canberra that year.

International expert in the field Cardiologist Dr Dolores Taboada from the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit at the Papworth Hospital in Cambridge described the classification of pulmonary hypertension, the role of the cardiologist (with a special interest in PH) in diagnosis and treatment. Dr Taboada explained how patients are stratified for disease severity/ prognosis and responses to stress on the timeline of this serious and progressive condition. In summary, she illustrated these concepts with case histories.

After a short break for dinner, Dr Martinez took the microphone to give a clinically orieneted, very practical practical and entertaining exposition on “How much is too much” when confronted pulmonary hypertension patients presenting for non-cardiac anaesthesia. He described how the right ventricle performs with the added insults of ischaemia and increased wall tension – and what we can do about it. Dr Martinez concluded with practical patient risk assessment schemes and tips on how to avoid or deal with catastrophes.

This clinical and pharmacology update for pulmonary hypertension was timely – it is now an increasingly treatable condition with which a growing number of our patients present for surgery. We all enjoyed the chance to discuss or experiences with each other and experts in the field.The introduction of the concept of ventricular happiness was one with which there was universal acceptance and understanding. It was the theme of the evening.

This evening was sponsored by ASA and supported by Bayer. Pharmacology PhD Dr Jade Wei and Neuroscientist Dr Mark Kepper represented Bayer Healthcare.

Drs Taboada and Martinez have recently published a review of PH in Anaesthesia.

“ Pulmonary Hypertension and its management in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery”

Anaesthesia Volume 70 Issue 1 pp56-70 Jan 2015

A slideshow can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/133639139