ABS Surgical Critical Care study plan
ABS Surgical Critical Care · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Biology of critical illness and support of organ system function
Map Domain 1 into five subsystems (cardiovascular, respiratory, renal/metabolic, hematologic/immune, neuro/endocrine) and list the core physiologic derangements tested in each
Explain oxygen delivery and consumption relationships and derive how shock states alter them
Work through 25 practice questions on shock physiology and vasoactive pharmacology, writing a one-line rationale for every wrong answer
Draft a personal formula sheet covering hemodynamics, acid-base, and oxygen content calculations
Your checkpoint
Completed Domain 1 concept map plus a one-page formula sheet with 20 practice questions logged and rationales written
Biology of critical illness and support of organ system function
Compare mechanical ventilation modes and derive the effects of PEEP, tidal volume, and driving pressure on gas exchange and hemodynamics
Interpret arterial blood gases and mixed venous gases using a structured stepwise method
Explain renal replacement therapy modalities and indications, and contrast them with diuretic strategies
Review transfusion and coagulation management principles in the critically ill surgical patient
Complete 30 mixed Domain 1 questions under timed conditions
Your checkpoint
Timed 30-question Domain 1 set completed with score recorded and a written error log of at least 10 missed concepts
Physiologic responses to trauma, burns, and inflammation
Trace the neuroendocrine and inflammatory cascade after major injury and identify the clinical consequences of each mediator
Differentiate the phases of burn resuscitation and calculate fluid requirements for a sample patient
Explain the metabolic response to trauma and starvation and how they diverge
Describe sepsis pathophysiology and link it to resuscitation endpoints and vasopressor selection
Build a comparison table of shock types with hemodynamic profiles
Your checkpoint
Completed shock comparison table plus two worked burn resuscitation calculations with written commentary
Physiologic responses to trauma, burns, and inflammation & Comorbidities and complications unique to patients with surgical disease
Analyze the systemic effects of inflammation on each organ system and predict failure patterns
Identify complications unique to surgical patients such as anastomotic leak, abdominal compartment syndrome, and perioperative aspiration
Explain how common comorbidities (diabetes, cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, obesity) alter critical illness trajectory and drug dosing
Complete 25 questions spanning Domains 2 and 3 and categorize misses by mechanism
Your checkpoint
Midpoint self-assessment: 25-question mixed set scored, with a written summary of the three weakest mechanistic areas and a revised study focus for weeks 5-8
Comorbidities and complications unique to patients with surgical disease
Outline prevention, recognition, and management of venous thromboembolism, delirium, pressure injury, and catheter-related infection in the ICU
Explain nutritional support decisions including route, timing, and monitoring in the postoperative critically ill patient
Describe stress ulcer prophylaxis indications and risks
Work through 20 case-based questions on surgical complications and document reasoning for each
Your checkpoint
Case-based question log of 20 items with written reasoning and a one-page complication-prevention checklist
Nonoperative supportive care techniques for critically ill patients
Compare sedation strategies and their effects on ventilator weaning and delirium
Explain analgesia approaches including multimodal and regional techniques in surgical ICU patients
Describe liberation from mechanical ventilation and predict extubation failure risk factors
Summarize glucose control, electrolyte correction, and fever workup as supportive care techniques
Complete 25 nonoperative management questions timed
Your checkpoint
Timed 25-question Domain 4 set completed with score and a written weaning/extubation decision algorithm
Relationship between critical surgical illness and surgical procedures, including leadership and administration of critical care units
Analyze how timing and choice of surgical intervention interact with critical illness trajectory, including damage control principles
Explain perioperative risk assessment and optimization for the critically ill patient
Describe ICU leadership responsibilities including triage, capacity management, and family communication frameworks
Outline quality and safety structures such as morbidity review, bundle compliance, and metrics reporting
Review 20 questions on perioperative critical care and ICU administration
Your checkpoint
Written one-page ICU quality metric dashboard proposal plus 20-question practice log with rationales
Biology of critical illness and support of organ system function & Physiologic responses to trauma, burns, and inflammation & Comorbidities and complications unique to patients with surgical disease & Nonoperative supportive care techniques for critically ill patients & Relationship between critical surgical illness and surgical procedures, including leadership and administration of critical care units
Re-review the error logs from weeks 1-7 and rank remaining gaps by frequency
Complete two full-length timed practice exams under test-day conditions
Re-derive every formula and algorithm from memory without notes
Consolidate a final one-page rapid-review sheet covering highest-yield physiology and management decisions
Your checkpoint
Two timed full-length practice exams scored with a final one-page rapid-review sheet and a ranked list of residual weak areas
Milestones
Week 2: Domain 1 formula sheet complete and at least 70% on a 30-question timed Domain 1 set
Week 4: Midpoint mixed assessment scored with a written gap analysis identifying three weakest mechanistic areas
Week 6: All error logs from weeks 1-5 reviewed and at least 75% on timed Domain 4 set
Week 8: Both full-length practice exams completed with scores recorded and a final rapid-review sheet finished