Anesthesia Board study guide
Anesthesia Board · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ABA BASIC Exam is the first of the three staged examinations in the American Board of Anesthesiology's initial certification pathway, followed by the ADVANCED and APPLIED exams. Under the ABA's updated policy, effective Jan. 1, 2025, the BASIC Exam remains a qualifying exam for initial ABA certification, and candidates must pass it for entry into the exam system. The ABA continues to describe the exam as an independent evaluation that assesses a resident's foundational knowledge and ability to meet a high standard. The Anesthesia Board study guide has 4 sections and about 1,675 words.
01Basic Sciences: Physics, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology
Laminar flow varies with radius to the fourth power (halving a tube's diameter cuts flow 16-fold), while turbulent flow depends on gas density and is quantified by the Reynolds number -- the principle behind helium-oxygen mixtures lowering resistance in upper airway obstruction. Variable-bypass vaporizers split fresh gas between a bypass channel and a vaporizing chamber; desflurane requires a heated, pressurized canister.
362 words, about 2 min02Clinical Anesthesia: Preoperative Care, Anesthetic Management, and Crises
Focused history with functional capacity (4 METs or better predicts tolerance), airway examination (mouth opening, thyromental distance, Mallampati, cervical mobility, dentition), aspiration risk, and NPO intervals (clear fluids 2 h, breast milk 4 h, light meal 6 h, fatty meal 8 h). Test only when the result changes management.
331 words, about 2 min03Specialty and Subspecialty Anesthesia
Neonates have MAC roughly 30% below older infants, immature hepatic and renal clearance, higher total body water, and bradycardia as the dominant response to hypoxia. The infant larynx is rostral and cephalad.
324 words, about 2 min04Professional Practice, Patient Safety, and Quality Improvement
PS 1 healthy; PS 2 mild systemic disease; PS 3 severe systemic disease that is not incapacitating; PS 4 incapacitating disease with a constant threat to life; PS 5 moribund, not expected to survive without the operation; PS 6 brain-dead organ donor. Add "E" for emergency.
658 words, about 3 min