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ANZCA Final Exam Viva practice

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reasoning visible
in the Final Exam
Viva.

Speak through complex anaesthetic decisions while the examiner responds to what you have demonstrated and what remains unclear.

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ExaminationCardiac & Thoracic
13:15
Station 09Candidate instructions

Preoperative cardiac risk assessment

2 minutes reading · 15 minutes viva

You are assessing a 76-year-old man with a newly diagnosed ascending-colon cancer for right hemicolectomy within six weeks. A systolic murmur was found at the surgical clinic. He reports slowing down over six months but attributes this to age.

Background and observations
  • Hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia
  • Heart rate 68 beats/min; blood pressure 154/78 mmHg
  • Respiratory rate 16 breaths/min; SpO2 97% on room air
Opening question

How would you determine whether the aortic stenosis is severe and symptomatic, and define the competing cardiac and cancer risks?

E
Examiner

How would you determine whether the aortic stenosis is severe and symptomatic, and define the competing cardiac and cancer risks?

You

I would clarify whether his reduced activity represents exertional dyspnoea, angina, presyncope or syncope, ask about heart failure symptoms and previous cardiac disease, then establish baseline function and frailty.

E
Examiner

He describes exertional chest tightness and near-syncope when walking uphill. Please elaborate on how you would assess his functional capacity, frailty and heart-failure symptoms.

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Inside an ANZCA Final Examination Viva

Reason aloud under viva questioning.

Answer the authored opening question, justify your decisions and respond to examiner follow-up questions.

“He describes exertional chest tightness and near-syncope when walking uphill. Please elaborate on how you would assess his functional capacity, frailty and heart-failure symptoms.”

01Read

Review the stem, available information and opening question before the viva begins.

02Respond

Answer aloud, justify your decisions and respond to the examiner’s follow-up questions.

03Review

See how your reasoning and decisions aligned with the viva rubric and full transcript.

One connected product

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Choose your pathway, perform a realistic station and turn the result into a specific plan for the next attempt.

01Choose a stationDASHBOARD
ANZCA station libraryChoose what to practise next
  • 01
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  • 03
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  • 04
    ObstetricsMaternal cardiac arrest and resuscitative birth
02Perform out loudSTATION RUNNER
E
Examiner

How would you determine whether the aortic stenosis is severe and symptomatic, and define the competing cardiac and cancer risks?

You

I would clarify whether his reduced activity represents exertional dyspnoea, angina, presyncope or syncope, ask about heart failure symptoms and previous cardiac disease, then establish baseline function and frailty.

E
Examiner

He describes exertional chest tightness and near-syncope when walking uphill. Please elaborate on how you would assess his functional capacity, frailty and heart-failure symptoms.

Type your response...
03Understand the resultFEEDBACK
Practice ratingAt Standard

You gave a structured cardiovascular assessment and recognised that the reported decline may represent important exertional symptoms. Next, link each finding to perioperative risk and state how it changes your investigation or anaesthetic plan.

Next focus: Link findings to risk and the next anaesthetic decision.

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