HERMES Adult Respiratory Medicine study plan

Build a one-page decision map for asthma vs COPD overlap, covering spirometry interpretation, bronchodilator reversibility criteria and eosinophil-guided inhaled corticosteroid use

Work through 40 asthma and COPD cases and write the single finding that changed your management in each

Explain the indication, dosing and monitoring for each drug class in severe asthma (biologics, LAMA add-on, azithromycin) without notes

Distinguish CAP, HAP and VAP by timing, likely pathogens and first-line empirical regimen, and state when to add MRSA or antipseudomonal cover

List the criteria that move a pneumonia patient from ward to ICU and rehearse the calculation on 10 vignettes

Interpret full pulmonary function tests (volumes, flow-volume loop, diffusion) and classify the defect in 20 worked examples

Apply the GOLD ABE grouping and the 2024-plus asthma severity steps to 15 clinical scenarios and justify each treatment escalation

Differentiate bronchiectasis, cystic-fibrosis-related and non-CF disease by microbiology, airway clearance and exacerbation antibiotic choice

Diagnose and stage tuberculosis (latent vs active, drug resistance) and select regimens including in pregnancy and renal impairment

Recognise when a pneumonia is non-resolving and list the 8 alternative diagnoses to exclude

Apply the Berlin definition of ARDS and set lung-protective ventilation (tidal volume, plateau pressure, PEEP, driving pressure) for 10 ventilator-strip scenarios

Manage acute hypercapnic exacerbation of COPD including NIV initiation criteria, targets and failure indicators

Interpret arterial and venous blood gases systematically and identify mixed acid-base disorders in 15 examples

Explain the diagnostic pathway for pulmonary embolism (Wells, age-adjusted D-dimer, CTPA, V/Q) and select anticoagulation including in cancer and pregnancy

Classify pulmonary hypertension by WHO group and outline the work-up and which patients merit referral to a PH centre

Manage shock, sepsis and fluid strategy in the ventilated patient, and state when to use prone positioning, neuromuscular blockade or ECMO referral

Troubleshoot high airway pressures and patient-ventilator dyssynchrony using a structured checklist

Diagnose and treat massive and submassive PE including thrombolysis thresholds and contraindications

Describe the ICU management of status asthmaticus and of pneumothorax including chest drain and pleurodesis decisions

Review the indications for and complications of lung transplantation and long-term oxygen therapy

Apply the ATS/ERS 2022 approach to ILD: when to suspect, how to interpret HRCT patterns (UIP, NSIP, OP, HP) and when to biopsy

Distinguish idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from hypersensitivity pneumonitis, connective-tissue-disease ILD and sarcoidosis on clinical and radiological grounds

Select and monitor antifibrotic therapy, immunosuppression and referral for transplant in progressive pulmonary fibrosis

Stage lung cancer (TNM 9th edition concepts, mediastinal staging) and match treatment intent to stage and performance status

Interpret solitary pulmonary nodule risk (size, growth, PET, Brock/Mayo models) and decide surveillance vs resection

Explain the principles and toxicity management of targeted therapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy in NSCLC and small-cell lung cancer

Recognise paraneoplastic syndromes and superior vena cava obstruction, and outline urgent management

Manage malignant pleural effusion and mesothelioma including indwelling catheter vs pleurodesis decisions

Screen for and manage immunotherapy-related pneumonitis and distinguish it from infection and progression

Run through the ILD multidisciplinary meeting logic: which cases need MDT, and what each specialty contributes

Interpret sleep studies (AHI, ODI, arousal index, hypnogram) and classify obstructive vs central sleep apnoea and hypoventilation syndromes

Initiate and titrate CPAP and non-invasive ventilation (including obesity hypoventilation), and manage adherence problems

Assess fitness to drive and to fly in sleep-disordered breathing and outline occupational implications

Apply paediatric-specific respiratory physiology: age-related normal ranges, bronchiolitis and croup management, and when asthma is diagnosed in children

Distinguish paediatric pneumonia, cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia, and know the newborn screening and sweat-test pathways

Consolidate weak areas identified in the week-4 mock and any interim self-tests, prioritising the two lowest-scoring subtopics

Practise 120 mixed questions under timed conditions and review every explanation

Rehearse structured verbal answers to 10 high-yield 'what is your next step' scenarios across all eight domains

Re-derive the key numbers from memory: ARDS thresholds, CURB-65, GOLD grades, TNM stages, AHI cut-offs and paediatric dosing

Build a one-page pre-exam formula and criteria card you can review in the final 48 hours