Iraqi Board Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery study guide
Iraqi Board Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Iraqi Board in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Al-Majlis al-Iraqi lil-Ikhtisasat al-Tibbiya – Jarahat al-Sadr wal-Aw'iya al-Damawiya) is a national specialty certification for physicians who have completed structured postgraduate training in cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery and wish to be recognised as specialists. It is aimed at residents finishing an accredited training programme and at surgeons preparing for consultant-level appointment within Iraq. The Iraqi Board Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery study guide has 16 sections and about 3,524 words.
01Cardiac Surgery – Adult Acquired
Adult acquired cardiac surgery tests whether you can connect presentation, imaging and operative risk to a defensible operation. Coronary, valve, aortic and pericardial problems must be managed by established indications, not by isolated numbers.
290 words, about 1 min02Thoracic Surgery – Pulmonary, Pleural, Chest Wall and Diaphragm
This domain tests operative selection and staging for lung, pleural, chest-wall and diaphragmatic disease. The exam favours anatomic reasoning: what is resectable, what is benign, and what must be staged before incision.
261 words, about 1 min03Congenital and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Congenital cardiac surgery tests lesion physiology, timing and shunt direction. The exam expects you to separate duct-dependent systemic or pulmonary circulation from lesions that can wait.
229 words, about 1 min04Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Vascular surgery tests urgency, anatomy and revascularization choice. The exam expects you to recognise threatened limb, rupture risk and when endovascular repair is appropriate.
230 words, about 1 min05Thoracic Oncology and Mediastinal/Tracheal/Esophageal Disease
This domain tests staging and multidisciplinary treatment of thoracic malignancy and complex airway or esophageal disease. The exam rewards stage-based decisions over isolated operative enthusiasm.
234 words, about 1 min06Perioperative Critical Care
Perioperative critical care tests recognition and correction of failing oxygen delivery after thoracic or cardiac surgery. The exam expects physiology-based escalation, not reflexive fluid loading.
225 words, about 1 min07Anesthesia Interface and Mechanical Circulatory Support
This domain tests coordination between surgeon, anesthesiologist and perfusion team, including mechanical support selection. The exam emphasizes indications, contraindications and device-related complications.
201 words, about 1 min08Diagnostic Imaging
Diagnostic imaging tests modality choice and image interpretation in thoracic and cardiovascular disease. The exam expects you to match the clinical question to the imaging test and to recognize urgent findings.
250 words, about 1 min09Cardiology Interface and Invasive Diagnostics
This domain tests collaboration with cardiology and interpretation of invasive diagnostics. The exam expects you to know when catheterization adds information and when it delays surgery.
238 words, about 1 min10Basic Sciences Applied to the Specialty
Basic sciences in this exam are applied, not isolated facts. Anatomy, physiology, pathology and pharmacology must explain operative risk and clinical findings.
199 words, under 1 min11Surgical Technique
Surgical technique tests safe execution and reproducible principles. The exam rewards tissue handling, exposure, hemostasis and complication avoidance over named operations alone.
195 words, under 1 min12Grafts/Materials
Grafts and materials questions test conduit choice, prosthetic behavior and infection risk. The exam expects material-specific complications and long-term trade-offs.
209 words, about 1 min13Infection Control and Patient Safety
This domain tests prevention and response to surgical infection and system safety. The exam expects practical infection-control measures and recognition of device-related infection.
190 words, under 1 min14Research Methodology
Research methodology tests whether you can judge study design and avoid overreading results. The exam expects clear questions, appropriate comparators and recognition of bias.
190 words, under 1 min15Evidence Appraisal
Evidence appraisal tests whether you can apply guidelines and trials to an individual patient. The exam expects critical reading, not memorization of conclusions.
196 words, under 1 min16Ethics and Professionalism
Ethics and professionalism tests consent, capacity, confidentiality and resource stewardship in thoracic and cardiovascular practice. The exam expects defensible reasoning when values conflict.
187 words, under 1 min