RACS GSSE case studies
RACS GSSE · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The General Surgery Skills Examination (GSSE) is an assessment referenced within the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) examinations area of the College website. This page is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by RACS, and it does not reproduce RACS examination material. The official GSSE page on the RACS website returned a "404 Page not found" response when checked on 2 November 2026, so this introduction deliberately makes no claims about the number of questions, the exam duration, the pass mark, the fee, the retake policy, or the validity period of results. The RACS GSSE case studies are 5 cases and about 3,130 words.
1The Hypotensive Patient with Dark Stool on the Ward
A 68-year-old man is day 3 after an uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy. He has known atrial fibrillation on apixaban 5 mg twice daily, withheld since the night before surgery.
662 words, about 3 min2Right Iliac Fossa Mass in a Young Woman
A 24-year-old woman presents with 36 hours of central abdominal pain migrating to the right iliac fossa, anorexia and one episode of vomiting. She is 8 weeks postpartum after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery and is breastfeeding.
646 words, about 3 min3The Frail Patient with an Obstructing Sigmoid Tumour
An 84-year-old woman presents with 5 days of absolute constipation, vomiting and progressive abdominal distension. She lives alone with carers twice daily and has mild cognitive impairment.
645 words, about 3 min4Post-operative Day 5 Tachycardia After Emergency Laparotomy
A 57-year-old man is day 5 after an emergency laparotomy and small bowel resection for adhesional obstruction with ischaemic bowel. He has a midline wound closed with clips, a nasogastric tube, a urinary catheter and a rectus sheath catheter infusing local anaesthetic.
581 words, about 3 min5The Anticoagulated Patient Needing Emergency Surgery
A 71-year-old man presents with a 12-hour history of generalised abdominal pain and distension. He has a mechanical mitral valve replacement (current-generation bileaflet valve) and takes warfarin, with a recent INR of 2.8.
596 words, about 3 min