AOBA Anesthesiology study guide
AOBA Anesthesiology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology (AOBA) certification examination is the credentialing pathway for osteopathic anesthesiologists who have completed accredited residency training and wish to demonstrate competence to a board of their peers. It is intended for physicians at the transition from training into independent practice, and for practicing anesthesiologists seeking to maintain board standing through the osteopathic pathway. The AOBA Anesthesiology study guide has 10 sections and about 2,825 words.
01Basic Sciences Applied to Anesthesiology
Master the physiology that drives every intraoperative decision: oxygen delivery (DO2 = CO × CaO2), the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve and its shifts (right shift: ↑CO2, ↑H+, ↑temperature, ↑2,3-DPG; left shift: fetal Hb, CO, alkalosis, hypothermia), lung volumes and closing capacity (closure increases with age and supine position, promoting atelectasis and shunt), and the Frank-Starling relationship. Learn receptor pharmacology as a system: GABA-A (propofol, benzodiazepines, volatile agents), NMDA (ketamine), mu-opioid (fentanyl family), and the ester vs amide metabolism of local anesthetics (pseudocholinesterase vs hepatic; amides are the ones implicated in LAST).
300 words, about 2 min02Preanesthetic Evaluation and Perioperative Assessment
Preoperative evaluation is risk stratification plus optimization, not clearance. Know the components: focused history and physical, airway assessment (Mallampati, thyromental distance, mouth opening, neck mobility, dentition), functional capacity (metabolic equivalents; <4 METs is poor), and comorbidity-specific risk (cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, endocrine, OSA).
316 words, about 2 min03Anesthesia Equipment, Monitoring, and Safety
Know the anesthesia machine as a gas-delivery system: oxygen supply (pipeline vs cylinder, fail-safe and hypoxic guard), vaporizers (variable bypass, agent-specific, interlock), the breathing circuit (circle system with CO2 absorber, unidirectional valves), and the ventilator (bellows, pressure vs volume modes). Understand the scavenging system and the low-pressure leak test.
302 words, about 2 min04General Anesthesia: Techniques and Airway Management
General anesthesia is a continuum of sedation, hypnosis, amnesia, and immobility, achieved by balanced technique (induction agent, maintenance with volatile or TIVA, opioid, muscle relaxant). Know the airway algorithm: assess, plan, and have a rescue plan.
300 words, about 2 min05Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management
Know the anatomy and dermatomes for neuraxial and peripheral blocks. For spinal and epidural anesthesia, understand level of block, hemodynamic effects (sympathectomy causing hypotension and bradycardia), and complications (post-dural puncture headache, high spinal, epidural hematoma, infection).
278 words, about 1 min06Intraoperative Management and Hemodynamic/Respiratory Physiology
Manage the triad of anesthesia: hypnosis, analgesia, and muscle relaxation, while maintaining perfusion and oxygenation. Understand hemodynamic monitoring: arterial line waveform and pulse pressure variation, central venous pressure limitations, and goal-directed fluid therapy.
287 words, about 1 min07Subspecialty Anesthesia (Cardiothoracic, Neuro, Obstetric, Pediatric, Ambulatory)
Each subspecialty has distinct physiology. Cardiothoracic: one-lung ventilation, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, cardiac output and shunt, and post-thoracotomy pain.
284 words, about 1 min08Critical Care and Postoperative Management
Postoperative care focuses on recognizing and treating complications: respiratory failure, aspiration, atelectasis, pneumonia, postoperative nausea and vomiting, delirium, and surgical complications. Know the criteria for ICU admission and the principles of mechanical ventilation (lung-protective, weaning, spontaneous breathing trials).
248 words, about 1 min09Chronic Pain Medicine
Chronic pain is biopsychosocial. Know the difference between nociceptive, neuropathic, and centralized pain, and how each is treated.
234 words, about 1 min10Professional, Ethical, and Practice Management Issues
Professional practice includes informed consent, capacity assessment, confidentiality, and end-of-life decision-making. Understand the elements of informed consent (indication, risks, benefits, alternatives, and the patient's right to refuse) and when surrogate decision-makers apply.
276 words, about 1 min