ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) study plan
ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Basic Sciences: Physics, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Anatomy
Derive and explain the gas laws, vaporizer physics, and flow/pressure relationships that govern breathing-circuit and machine behavior, writing each equation from memory
Reconstruct inhaled and intravenous anesthetic pharmacokinetics, including uptake, distribution, context-sensitive half-time, and MAC concepts, without notes
Map autonomic and cardiovascular physiology onto the hemodynamic effects of induction agents and volatile anesthetics
Explain the mechanisms of action, metabolism, and clinically relevant interactions of neuromuscular blockers, opioids, and local anesthetics
Your checkpoint
A handwritten, closed-book one-page equation and concept sheet for physics and pharmacology, plus a 50-question self-quiz scored at 80% or higher
Basic Sciences: Physics, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Anatomy & Anesthesia Equipment, Monitoring, and Instrumentation
Trace oxygen and gas flow from wall supply through the anesthesia machine to the patient, naming each component and its failure mode
Interpret capnography, pulse oximetry, and invasive pressure waveforms in terms of the underlying physiology and artifact sources
Compare ventilator modes and alarm logic, and identify the three most dangerous equipment misconfigurations
Explain electrical safety, leakage current, and the hazards of the MRI and laser environments
Your checkpoint
A labeled, self-drawn anesthesia machine schematic with ten annotated failure points, plus a 40-question equipment and monitoring quiz at 80% or higher
Airway Management and Difficult Airway & Anesthetic Techniques and Intraoperative Management
Construct a stepwise difficult-airway algorithm from preoxygenation through rescue oxygenation, distinguishing awake versus anesthetized approaches
Compare supraglottic devices, videolaryngoscopes, and flexible bronchoscopes by indication, limitation, and confirmation method
Sequence the induction, maintenance, and emergence plan for a healthy adult and for a patient with a full stomach
Justify the choice of anesthetic technique for three common surgical procedures using evidence-based trade-offs
Your checkpoint
A one-page difficult-airway decision flowchart plus written answers to ten airway and technique vignettes, each with a defensible rationale
Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine & Anesthetic Techniques and Intraoperative Management
Locate and describe the target, endpoint, dose, and complication profile for the ten highest-yield peripheral and neuraxial blocks
Explain local anesthetic systemic toxicity presentation, dosing limits, and lipid emulsion rescue in correct sequence
Compare neuraxial versus general anesthesia for a given patient using outcome and risk data
Design an acute pain plan combining multimodal analgesia, regional technique, and opioid-sparing strategy
Your checkpoint
A block card set covering ten blocks with dose, landmark, and complication, plus a 30-question regional quiz at 85% or higher
Preoperative Evaluation and Coexisting Disease & Postoperative Care, Complications, and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Build a systematic preoperative risk assessment framework covering cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, and hematologic disease
Apply perioperative medication management rules for anticoagulants, antidiabetics, and cardiac drugs
Differentiate the causes and management of early postoperative hypoxemia, hypercarbia, and altered mental status
Construct a risk-stratified antiemetic prophylaxis plan using multimodal agents and validated risk factors
Your checkpoint
A two-page preoperative risk checklist and a one-page PONV algorithm, validated by scoring at least 80% on a 40-question mixed quiz
Critical Care and Emergency Resuscitation & Special Populations and Subspecialty Anesthesia
Sequence the first ten minutes of resuscitation for shock, massive hemorrhage, and malignant hyperthermia, stating drug, dose, and endpoint
Interpret arterial blood gases and hemodynamic data to classify shock and choose the next intervention
Adapt anesthetic plans for obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric patients with age- and physiology-specific dosing
Identify the anesthetic implications of obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and same-day surgery triage
Your checkpoint
Three written crisis checklists (hemorrhage, malignant hyperthermia, anaphylaxis) and a 30-question critical care and special populations quiz at 80% or higher
Special Populations and Subspecialty Anesthesia & Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Ethics, and Professional Practice
Analyze a documented critical incident using a structured root-cause framework and propose system-level fixes
Explain the ethical and legal principles governing informed consent, capacity, and refusal of care in the perioperative setting
Describe quality metrics, morbidity and mortality review, and the anesthesiologist's role in handoff and medication safety
Evaluate the professional obligations around impairment, disclosure of error, and scope of practice
Your checkpoint
A written mock root-cause analysis of one anesthetic adverse event, including a corrective action plan and three measurable quality indicators
Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Ethics, and Professional Practice & Anesthetic Techniques and Intraoperative Management
Integrate all ten domains by completing two timed mixed-domain practice examinations under test conditions
Categorize every missed question by domain and mechanism of error to target a final two-week review list
Rehearse rapid recall of high-yield doses, equations, and algorithms using spaced-repetition flashcards
Finalize an exam-day strategy covering pacing, flagging, and guessing rules
Your checkpoint
Two timed 100-question mixed practice exams with a written error-analysis log and a final prioritized high-yield review list of no more than 30 items
Milestones
Week 2: Score 80% or higher on the combined physics, pharmacology, equipment, and monitoring quizzes, and produce the machine schematic and equation sheet from memory
Week 4: Score 85% or higher on the airway, technique, and regional quizzes, and deliver the airway flowchart plus ten-block card set
Week 6: Score 80% or higher on the preoperative, postoperative, critical care, and special populations quizzes, and complete all three crisis checklists
Week 8: Achieve 70% or higher on both timed 100-question mixed practice exams, with every missed item mapped to a domain in the error-analysis log