EDAIC study guide
EDAIC · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EDAIC®) is a multilingual, end-of-training examination for anaesthesiologists, covering the basic sciences and clinical subjects relevant to specialist practice. It is endorsed by the European Board of Anaesthesiology (EBA) of the UEMS through CESMA, and all questions are aligned with the UEMS European Training Requirements in Anaesthesiology. The qualification aims to set a uniformly high standard of knowledge across Europe and is assessed by an independent Board of Examiners. It can also serve as a learning and validation tool outside Europe, and the WFSA commends the initiative. Topics on this exam: Relevant basic sciences appropriate for a specialist anaesthesiologist and Clinical subjects appropriate for a specialist anaesthesiologist. The EDAIC study guide has 2 sections and about 928 words.
01Relevant basic sciences appropriate for a specialist anaesthesiologist
Domain 1 of the EDAIC covers applied physiology, pharmacology, physics and equipment, anatomy and clinical measurement as they underpin anaesthetic practice. Part I tests them as single-best-answer items inside a scenario - a change in cardiac output during inhalational induction, a dose calculation, a vaporiser or circuit fault - and Part II revisits the same principles orally, expecting you to justify rather than merely recognise the answer. DO2 = CO × CaO2, and CaO2 = (1.34 × Hb × SaO2) + (0.003 × PaO2). At sea level dissolved oxygen adds only ~0.3–1.5 mL/dL, so anaemia and low cardiac output matter more than moderate desaturation.
492 words, about 2 min02Clinical subjects appropriate for a specialist anaesthesiologist
Domain 2 converts that science into bedside decisions: airway strategy, coexisting disease, obstetric, paediatric and trauma anaesthesia, resuscitation, intensive care and postoperative management. Part I presents a vignette with one best answer; Part II asks you to defend the choice and to state what you would do next. Predict difficulty, position and preoxygenate (high-flow nasal oxygen prolongs safe apnoea), and use rapid-sequence induction when aspiration risk is real. For "cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate", move to front-of-neck access without delay; for an anticipated difficult airway, awake tracheal intubation.
436 words, about 2 min