HKCA Final MCQ study plan

Map the anaesthesiology syllabus into a checklist of core topics (preoperative assessment, airway management, pharmacology, monitoring, regional anaesthesia, emergencies) and rate confidence 1–5 for each

Review preoperative assessment and optimisation: cardiac risk indices, respiratory risk, fasting guidelines, and management of common comorbidities

Rehearse the ASA difficult airway algorithm and failed intubation/ventilation pathways, writing out decision points from memory

List induction agents, neuromuscular blockers, and reversal agents with key dose ranges, onset/duration, and major adverse effects

Explain oxygen delivery and uptake, capnography waveforms, and pulse oximetry limitations in low-perfusion states

Compare volatile agents and total intravenous anaesthesia on pharmacokinetics, emergence, and postoperative nausea/vomiting risk

Describe intraoperative hypotension and hypoxia management using a structured cause-and-response approach

Summarise malignant hyperthermia and anaphylaxis recognition and immediate treatment steps

Outline regional anaesthesia techniques for common blocks (spinal, epidural, brachial plexus) with indications, contraindications, and complications

Review post-anaesthesia care unit criteria for discharge and management of common PACU problems (pain, nausea, shivering, airway obstruction)

Introduce intensive care: define sepsis and septic shock using current consensus criteria and outline the first-hour bundle

Compare vasopressors and inotropes by receptor profile and typical clinical use

Interpret arterial blood gases systematically, including compensation and mixed disorders

Apply lung-protective ventilation principles and troubleshoot high airway pressures

Describe shock states (hypovolaemic, cardiogenic, distributive, obstructive) with haemodynamic profiles and initial management

Explain acute kidney injury staging and renal replacement therapy indications in critical illness

Outline neurocritical care essentials: raised intracranial pressure, status epilepticus, and targeted temperature management

Summarise sedation, analgesia, and delirium bundles in the ICU, including spontaneous awakening and breathing trials

Review nutrition, stress ulcer prophylaxis, and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in critically ill adults

Describe end-of-life and family communication frameworks and withholding/withdrawing treatment decisions

Classify pain by mechanism (nociceptive, neuropathic, nociplastic) and match assessment tools to patient groups

Compare WHO analgesic ladder medicines by mechanism, dose range, and adverse effects

Review opioid pharmacology, tolerance, dependence, and opioid-induced hyperalgesia

Introduce interventional pain: indications, contraindications, and complications of common nerve blocks and epidural steroid injections

Explain neuropathic pain mechanisms and first-line pharmacological management

Outline cancer pain management, including breakthrough pain and opioid rotation

Describe acute postoperative pain pathways and multimodal analgesia strategies

Summarise chronic low back pain assessment and non-pharmacological management

Complete two full-length timed mock exams under exam conditions and review every incorrect answer

Revisit the three lowest-confidence topics from the week 1 topic map and write concise summaries

Practise structured answer planning for data-interpretation and short-answer questions

Consolidate a personal one-page formula and guideline sheet for final revision