Arab Board Anesthesia Part 1 study plan
Arab Board Anesthesia Part 1 · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 8 hours per week
Applied Physiology
Draw and label the cardiac pressure-volume loop from memory, annotating the effects of preload, afterload, and contractility
Explain the physiology of oxygen delivery and consumption, then calculate DO2 and VO2 for three worked clinical scenarios
Describe the mechanisms of hypoxemia and classify each cause by whether it responds to supplemental oxygen
Summarize renal blood flow autoregulation and the physiology of urine output as a resuscitation endpoint
Your checkpoint
A one-page handwritten physiology summary sheet covering the pressure-volume loop, DO2/VO2 equations, and the five mechanisms of hypoxemia, self-quizzed to 90% recall
Applied Physiology & Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics
Explain the pharmacokinetics of intravenous induction agents, including context-sensitive half-time and its clinical implications
Compare the pharmacodynamics of volatile agents using MAC, blood-gas partition coefficients, and their organ effects
Describe the mechanisms of action and reversal of neuromuscular blocking agents and the rationale for quantitative monitoring
Predict how hepatic and renal disease alter drug clearance and dosing for at least five commonly used anesthetic drugs
Your checkpoint
A completed drug comparison table for 10 anesthetic agents listing class, mechanism, onset, duration, key side effects, and one disease-state dosing adjustment each
Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics
Explain the pharmacology of opioids, local anesthetics, and adjuvant analgesics, including mechanisms of toxicity and treatment
Describe the mechanisms and management of malignant hyperthermia and anaphylaxis under anesthesia
Calculate loading doses, maintenance infusions, and effect-site concentrations for three simulated patients
Explain autonomic pharmacology relevant to intraoperative hemodynamic control, including vasopressors and inotropes
Your checkpoint
A 20-item self-written pharmacology quiz with answer key and explanations, scored to at least 85%
Applied Anatomy
Identify and describe the surface anatomy landmarks for neuraxial and major peripheral nerve blocks
Trace the course of the airway from the nares to the carina and relate each segment to a clinical airway complication
Explain the anatomy of the brachial plexus and its terminal branches with their motor and sensory territories
Describe the blood supply and innervation of the larynx and the anatomical basis of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury
Your checkpoint
A hand-drawn, labeled anatomy atlas of five regional block sites and the airway, with each landmark tied to a procedural step
Anesthetic Equipment, Physics and Monitoring & General and Regional Anesthesia Techniques
Explain the physics of gas flow, vaporizers, and the anesthesia machine breathing circuit, including the circle system and CO2 absorption
Interpret capnography, pulse oximetry, and invasive pressure waveforms in five simulated intraoperative events
Describe the indications, contraindications, and complications of general, spinal, epidural, and peripheral regional techniques
Outline a safe approach to difficult airway management and the failed intubation algorithm
Your checkpoint
A written case log of five simulated intraoperative events with the monitor waveform interpretation, differential diagnosis, and management plan for each
General and Regional Anesthesia Techniques & Anesthesia for Surgical Subspecialties and Comorbid Disease
Explain the anesthetic implications of major comorbidities including diabetes, ischemic heart disease, COPD, and obesity
Describe the anesthetic considerations for obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric patients
Outline the perioperative management of patients with pacemakers, pulmonary hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea
Describe the anesthetic plan for common subspecialty procedures including thoracic, neurosurgical, and major abdominal surgery
Your checkpoint
A one-page anesthetic plan template applied to three different comorbid patients, each with a written risk assessment and intraoperative contingency
Intensive Care and Critical Care Medicine & Resuscitation, Trauma and Emergency Management
Explain the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of shock, sepsis, and ARDS in the ICU setting
Describe the indications, settings, and complications of mechanical ventilation and weaning criteria
Apply the primary and secondary survey to a simulated polytrauma patient and prioritize interventions
Explain the management of massive hemorrhage, including transfusion strategy and the lethal triad
Your checkpoint
A written trauma and ICU management algorithm for two simulated scenarios, each with a stepwise resuscitation and monitoring plan scored against a self-made checklist
Pain Medicine and Palliative Care & Professionalism, Ethics, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Describe the pathophysiology and multimodal management of acute and chronic pain, including cancer pain and palliative care principles
Explain the ethical and legal principles governing consent, capacity, and end-of-life decisions in anesthesia
Identify patient safety and quality improvement frameworks, including incident reporting and root cause analysis
Synthesize the full curriculum into a personal weak-topic list and schedule targeted review
Your checkpoint
A final 40-item cumulative self-assessment across all ten domains, scored to at least 80%, with a written remediation plan for missed topics
Milestones
Week 2: Achieve at least 85% on a self-written 20-item quiz covering physiology and pharmacology of induction agents and volatile anesthetics
Week 4: Complete the anatomy atlas deliverable and pass a self-administered 20-item anatomy recall test at 90% or higher
Week 6: Complete all three comorbid patient plans and confirm that each includes a risk assessment and a contingency plan
Week 8: Score at least 80% on the cumulative 40-item self-assessment and produce a written remediation plan for every missed topic