Count to 10 - Anaesthetic Primary Podcast

In today's final 'Equipment and Safety' topic I cover the much-loved topic of Ultrasound with a small part on neuromonitoring (to add onto Ep38) with a focus on SedLine.   First, we go through the principles of USS (01:18) followed by a review on the mode of doppler (14:58). I thought I would touch on SedLine today because we have previously reviewed BIS but now this is becoming increasingly popul...

Time for another 'Live Practice Viva'. Thanks to Robbie for doing this and Derek for coming back to be a examiner!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. As per previous episodes we covered four topics which were: Desflurane (06:23), Phenylephrine (011:23), Haemostasis (16:23) and Lignocaine (21:23).   We then go through some feedback. Hope you guys enjoy and thank...

In today's Part 2 of 'Equipment and Safety' I cover "Suction & Scavenging, Electrical Safety & Diathermy." This was a much longer episode then anticipated! I start first with reviewing suction (01:06) then scavenging (08:23) with an additional part on environmental impact (14:53). Then we go into detail regarding electrical safety in the theatre (19:29). To end our LO's I look at how diathermy wor...

Today I give my quick thoughts on the most recent SAQ paper. I look at trends in the new, the repeat and the 're-word' questions. Well done to everyone who sat and for those sitting hopefully this gives you some insight into what to expect. Thanks for listening!

Today I am joined by Maurice, now a retired learning and development facilitator with ANZCA. We are releasing our newly created education tool "Conversation Starters in the Operating Theatre" available on the website. We start are conversation today talking about the concept of a 'curious learner' (07:56). Then we move on to discuss how we can suspend judgment when it comes to teaching (11:10) and...

I'm back for another year with a new series on "Equipment & Safety." There is a lot to cover today starting off with oxygen production (01:37) followed by a look at storage with cylinders (05:27) and a VIE (17:21). I then discuss modes of oxygen therapy (23:14). In the second part of the episode, I look at different breathing circuits (29:33), CO2 absorbents (35:23) and vaporisers (42:32). Finally...

In our last episode of our renal series, we finish by firstly looking at the counter-current mechanism (01:02). This then leads into a discussion of production of dilute and concentrated (11:59). We then overview the RAAS in more detail when we cover the regulation of renal function (14:38). The last LO for this series covers physiologic and clinical assessment of renal function (27:03). To end as...

In our second episode of our renal series, we start of by looking at the endocrine functions of the kidney (01:48). Then take a deep dive into glomerular filtration (07:34) and tubular function (18:28). To help understand the later we take a detour by looking at renal handling of different substances (31:16). Our last LO for today is understanding renal acid-base control (35:12). To end as always...

Today is the start of our 'Renal Physiology' series. I start off with going through the fundamentals by firstly covering gross and functional anatomy (02:06). Then I look at renal blood flow (12:59) and the last topic is measurement (25:36). As always at the end I go through the past SAQ's (33:01). Renal is one of those topics that I just had to keep going over again and again, so hopefully this s...

Today I'm joined by a very special guest in Maddie. Maddie sat the 2025.1 exam and won the Renton! She has kindly given some of her time to share her tips leading into the last week before the vivas (02:20) and offered to give some examples opening viva stem answers (11:56). We go through more than 30 stems in total with the second half later in the episode (39:14). In between she gives some advic...

Today I'm back doing a 'Live Practice Viva'. Thanks to Derek for doing this and Celia for being a special guest examiner again!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. As per previous episodes we covered four topics which were: Isomers/Warfarin (04:08), Resipratory changes in Pregnancy (09:08), Nausea & Vomiting (14:08) and Atelectasis & Peep (19:08).  We then go th...

With the 2025.2 written now in the books I thought I would review this most recent paper. Harry and Robbie join me today to help with this and they will also be educating me on the use of AI. Today's episode has 2-parts, the first is a look at how AI can be used as an adjunct to study. The second (27:49), I will go through the 2025.2 exam paper blind in persual conditions while Harry and Robbie wi...

This is a huge topic to cover and brings us to the end of our 'Neurophysiology & Pain' series. Today's topic is "Pain Physiology" and we start straight away by looking at the normal sensory pathways (01:39). This is followed by a detailed look at one the biggest LO's being physiological mechanism of pain (11:44). After this I quickly review the progression from acute to chronic pain (32:36), physi...

Today's topic is a fundamental topic when it comes to 'Neurophysiology.' There are more than 8 learning objectives for this topic, but they overlap quite a bit. So, I have divided this episode into two main LO's, the first looks at ICP (02:09) and CBP (13:18). Then I briefly look at anatomy of circulation to the brain and spinal cord (30:15).   Following this I look at the second main part which i...

Today's topic is a little more straightforward with very few LO's to cover but still some important concepts. I start by first going through nerve conduction physiology (01:07) followed by understanding the difference between sleep and general anaesthesia (11:29). This leads to discussing an important topic of EEG and more specifically different types of processed EEG (19:07). As always at the end...

I'm back today after a little break over the exam period with our brand-new series "Neurophysiology & Pain." The topic today is " Functional Anatomy. " I start by first going over the basic anatomy of ANS broken down further into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system (02:38) followed a look at the important neurotransmitters and receptors in this pathway (13:27). Then I look at the st...

Today I'm doing a 'Live Practice Viva'. Thanks to Nic for doing this and Celia for being a special guest examiner!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. We were able to cover four topics which were: Blood products (04:54), Opioids (09:55), Thermoregulation (14:51) and Blood Pressure Monitoring (19:53).  We then go through some feedback. Hope you guys enjoy and tha...

Today's episode is huge!! I go through all the little things not covered in PK or PD with regards to general pharmacology. First, I go through broadly drug preparation and packaging within pharmaceutics (01:18) followed by isomerism (08:11). Then I move on to drug variability starting off with some definitions (19:05) and then moving on to changes in PD and PK among different physiological states...

With 2025.1 written paper now behind us today I put myself to test and give you guys a "Live Perusal Demo." I have not looked at the questions and hopefully you will see through my example we are all human and get nervous. It has been 3 years since I sat my primary so I was a bit rusty, but I hope to give you some tips for you to maximise your perusal time (02:23). Then I give you a live demo (07:...

In today's episode I cover pharmacokinetics. Sorry for the delay but this was a big episode to record. I go through the ADME structure in order starting with absorption (04:21), distribution (15:34), metabolism (23:36) and elimination (30:37). Then I briefly look at intravenous infusion kinetics (35:33) followed by the past SAQ's (41:25). There are so many SAQ's to go through and for the purposes...

Today we start our new series of General Pharmacology Principles. The first topic is "Intro to Pharmacodynamics." I start by discussing the different MOA a drug can work by and then having a deeper look at receptors (01:54). Then I look at the Law of Mass Action and how this applies to receptor affinity (10:32). This brings me to a very important LO which examines the dose-effect relationships of...

Happy New Year! I'm joined today with a very special guest and current primary exam examiner Dr Anthony. In this episode we take a in depth look at the Pharmacokinetics of Propofol TCI. Anthony has curated this talk over multiple years and starts of by explaining the main equations you should know (05:35). We then integrate these equations into the classic Propofol Cp vs Time graph (11:52). This l...

I'm joined today by a special guest Justin and we go through an overlooked topic of 'Immunology & Hypersensitivity.' The first learning objective is to review how the body defends against infection (05:46) and then look how this is effects under anaesthesia (14:06). Finally, we have a long conversation about the pathophysiology of hypersensitivity (16:22) and the clinical context of the treatment...

Today is the last topic of our cardiac physiology series "Measurement." I start of by looking at different techniques to measure non-invasive BP from auscultation (01:31) to oscillometry (07:03). Then I look at an invasive method being arterial lines and this is divided into how it works (11:15) and sources of error (17:54). The last LO for today covers different techniques to measure cardiac outp...

In today's episode I cover the 'Past Saqs' from 'Applied Cardiac Physiology." The first SAQ looks at the consequence of tourniquet release after two hours (01:23) followed by the process's that cause oliguria in hypovolemic shock (09:45). Then I go through the model answers for CVS responses in severe blood loss (14:39), the effects of infusing Hartmann's solution (16:51) and briefly the impact of...