AOBA Anesthesiology study plan
AOBA Anesthesiology · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Basic Sciences Applied to Anesthesiology (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology)
Map core anatomy of airway, neuraxial space, and brachial plexus into a self-drawn diagram set
Explain pharmacokinetics (uptake, distribution, clearance, context-sensitive half-time) for propofol, volatile agents, and remifentanil in writing
Derive the mechanism and clinical implications of each IV induction agent's hemodynamic profile
Solve 40 mixed basic-science calculation items (dose, MAC-fraction, clearance) with worked steps
Your checkpoint
A 10-page handwritten or typed basic-science summary sheet plus a scored 40-item calculation set with all errors corrected
Basic Sciences Applied to Anesthesiology (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology) & Anesthesia Equipment, Monitoring, and Safety
Compare neuromuscular blocker pharmacology and reversal (sugammadex vs neostigmine) in a decision table
Trace the anesthesia machine gas pathway from pipeline to scavenging and label each safety interlock
Interpret capnography waveforms and identify 6 failure modes from written descriptions
Explain pulse oximetry, NIBP, and ECG artifact sources and state a corrective action for each
Your checkpoint
A labeled machine schematic plus a 15-row monitoring-artifact troubleshooting table
Preanesthetic Evaluation and Perioperative Assessment & General Anesthesia: Techniques and Airway Management
Build a structured preanesthetic evaluation checklist covering cardiac, pulmonary, and airway risk indices
Classify ASA physical status across 20 written vignettes and justify each assignment
Sequence a rapid-sequence induction and a difficult-airway algorithm from memory, stating each decision point
List criteria for awake intubation and describe two techniques for each
Your checkpoint
A one-page preop checklist plus a scored 20-vignette ASA classification exercise at 90% or better
Intraoperative Management and Hemodynamic/Respiratory Physiology & General Anesthesia: Techniques and Airway Management
Interpret mixed venous and arterial blood gases and explain oxygen delivery determinants
Explain the physiology behind hypotension under general and spinal anesthesia and match each to a first-line intervention
Describe ventilator strategies for one-lung ventilation and for restrictive lung disease
Analyze 10 written intraoperative hemodynamic scenarios and defend each management choice
Your checkpoint
A 10-scenario hemodynamic case workbook with written justifications reviewed against references
Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management
Map upper and lower extremity nerve blocks to target nerves, landmarks, and expected sensory territory
State local anesthetic maximum doses, onset/duration, and toxicity management including lipid emulsion therapy
List contraindications and complications of neuraxial anesthesia and their recognition timelines
Design a multimodal postoperative analgesia plan for three written surgical scenarios
Your checkpoint
A block-to-territory reference card plus three written multimodal analgesia plans with rationale
Subspecialty Anesthesia (cardiothoracic, neuro, obstetric, pediatric, ambulatory)
Compare anesthetic considerations for CABG, valve surgery, and thoracic resection in a structured table
Explain neuroanesthesia priorities for intracranial hypertension and for awake craniotomy
Outline obstetric anesthesia options for labor, cesarean delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage
Differentiate pediatric anesthetic considerations by age band including airway, dosing, and fluid management
List ambulatory anesthesia selection criteria and discharge readiness standards
Your checkpoint
A five-column subspecialty comparison matrix covering all five subspecialties with at least 8 discriminating rows each
Critical Care and Postoperative Management & Chronic Pain Medicine
Apply a structured approach to postoperative nausea/vomiting, delirium, and respiratory failure in written cases
Explain sepsis and shock resuscitation endpoints relevant to perioperative critical care
Differentiate nociceptive, neuropathic, and centralized pain and match each to first-line pharmacotherapy
Describe interventional options for chronic pain and their evidence-based indications
Write a safe opioid prescribing and monitoring plan for a chronic pain patient
Your checkpoint
Two critical-care case write-ups plus a chronic pain pharmacotherapy decision table with opioid safety plan
Professional, Ethical, and Practice Management Issues & Basic Sciences Applied to Anesthesiology (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology) & Subspecialty Anesthesia (cardiothoracic, neuro, obstetric, pediatric, ambulatory)
Apply informed consent, capacity, and disclosure principles to 10 written ethical vignettes
Explain quality improvement, infection control, and documentation standards relevant to anesthesia practice
Re-run missed items from weeks 1-7 and resolve each to a stated correct principle
Complete two timed mixed-domain practice sets under exam conditions
Your checkpoint
A cumulative error log with every missed item corrected and a scored 2-set timed practice record showing improvement
Milestones
Week 2: Score 80% or higher on a self-made 30-item quiz covering domains 1 and 3, with all missed items corrected in writing
Week 4: Complete the preop checklist, ASA vignette exercise, and hemodynamic workbook; demonstrate recall of the difficult-airway algorithm without notes
Week 6: Finish the subspecialty comparison matrix and pass a 40-item mixed quiz on domains 4, 5, 6, and 7 at 75% or higher
Week 8: Achieve 80% or higher on both timed mixed-domain practice sets and submit a complete error log with no unresolved items