33. Short-Answer Questions from Past FANZCA and FRCA Examinations

Craig Sims¹

(1)

Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia

Craig Sims

Email: craig.sims@health.wa.gov.au

Listed below are the pediatric anesthesia short-answer questions that have been recently asked in the Australasian and UK Fellowship exams at the time of printing. The questions are listed in the chronological order in which they were set.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance received in the preparation of this section from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Questions are reproduced with permission from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, January 2019.

We would also like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance received from The Royal College of Anaesthetists in the United Kingdom.

Percentages shown in brackets indicate allocation of marks for that part of the question.

∗ Indicates the question was asked more than once during this time period.

33.1 FANZCA Short-Answer Questions 2014–2018

1.

Outline the advantages and disadvantages of using the paediatric circle system and the Jackson-Rees modification of Ayre’s T-piece (Mapleson F) for anaesthesia in a 15 kg child.∗

23.3% and later 70.8% of candidates passed this question.
2.
An 8 week old baby is scheduled for an inguinal hernia repair on your list at a local general hospital tomorrow.
1. (a)
  
  Outline the important issues when providing anaesthesia care for this baby. (70%)
2. (b)
  
  Justify your decision to proceed with surgery at the local general hospital. (30%)
45.8% of candidates passed this question.
3.

A 3 year old child requires an adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea.

Outline and justify your peri-operative management plan.

50.3% of candidates passed this question.
4.

A 6-week-old term baby weighing 4.0 kg requires pyloromyotomy for pyloric stenosis.

How would you assess the baby’s hydration status? (50%)

Detail and justify your resuscitation regimen. (50%)

80% of candidates passed this question.
5.

A 2-year-old boy scheduled for hypospadias repair is found to have a precordial murmur. Justify your decision to proceed.

74.3% of candidates passed this question.
6.

Describe the anatomy relevant to performing a caudal block in a 2-year-old male.

40.5% of candidates passed this question.
7.

Describe your assessment of a 4-year-old child who has been rescued from a house fire.

24.9% of candidates passed this question.

Editor’s note: This question asks for assessment , not management