Stem 1
1. What accounts for the difference in oxygen partial pressure in dry air versus the oxygen partial pressure in the alveolus?
2. What is the respiratory quotient?
3. What is the A-a gradient?
4. What are the causes of an increased A-a gradient?
5. What are the causes of hypoxaemia, but with a normal A-a gradient?
Stem 2
1. What are the different types of hypersensitivity reactions that you know about?
2. What is the cellular mechanism for anaphylaxis?
3. How does it cause hypotension?
4. Why is adrenaline used in anaphylaxis?
5. What are the doses that you would give?
Stem 3
1. What are the indications of clonidine in anaesthetic practice?
2. What is clonidine’s mechanism of action?
3. How does clonidine cause a fall in blood pressure?
4. What are the pharmacokinetics characteristics of clonidine?
5. What are the differences between clonidine and dexmedetomidine?
Stem 4
1. What are the structural changes in the heart associated with ageing?
2. What are the structural changes in the blood vessels associated with ageing?
3. How do these structural changes affect the haemodynamics?
4. What are the autonomic changes associated with ageing?
5. When performing a Valsalva in an elderly patient, how are the results different to that of a younger patient?
