Today’s topic is a little more straightforward with very few LO’s to cover but still some important concepts. I start by first going through nerve conduction physiology (01:07) followed by understanding the difference between sleep and general anaesthesia (11:29). This leads to discussing an important topic of EEG and more specifically different types of processed EEG (19:07). As always at the end I go through the past SAQ’s (24:50). Thanks for listening! As always if you have any feedback let m...
Jun 22, 2025•38 min•Season 4Ep. 8
I’m back today after a little break over the exam period with our brand-new series “Neurophysiology & Pain.” The topic today is “ Functional Anatomy. ” I start by first going over the basic anatomy of ANS broken down further into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system (02:38) followed a look at the important neurotransmitters and receptors in this pathway (13:27). Then I look at the structure and function of the blood brain barriers (25:51) as well as the production, reabsorption...
Jun 07, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Today I'm doing a 'Live Practice Viva'. Thanks to Nic for doing this and Celia for being a special guest examiner!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. We were able to cover four topics which were: Blood products (04:54), Opioids (09:55), Thermoregulation (14:51) and Blood Pressure Monitoring (19:53). We then go through some feedback. Hope you guys enjoy and thanks for watching! As always if you have any feedback let me know at anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.co...
Apr 27, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Today’s episode is huge!! I go through all the little things not covered in PK or PD with regards to general pharmacology. First, I go through broadly drug preparation and packaging within pharmaceutics (01:18) followed by isomerism (08:11). Then I move on to drug variability starting off with some definitions (19:05) and then moving on to changes in PD and PK among different physiological states (22:47) and pathological states (38:29). Lastly, I look at a classification for adverse drug reactio...
Mar 30, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 5
With 2025.1 written paper now behind us today I put myself to test and give you guys a “Live Perusal Demo.” I have not looked at the questions and hopefully you will see through my example we are all human and get nervous. It has been 3 years since I sat my primary so I was a bit rusty, but I hope to give you some tips for you to maximise your perusal time (02:23). Then I give you a live demo (07:38) followed by a review of my performance (24:22). I don’t go through any model answers here, I rec...
Mar 09, 2025•42 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In today’s episode I cover pharmacokinetics. Sorry for the delay but this was a big episode to record. I go through the ADME structure in order starting with absorption (04:21), distribution (15:34), metabolism (23:36) and elimination (30:37). Then I briefly look at intravenous infusion kinetics (35:33) followed by the past SAQ’s (41:25). There are so many SAQ’s to go through and for the purposes of time I have just looked at a select view. Next episode I will go through ‘Drug Variability and In...
Feb 22, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Today we start our new series of General Pharmacology Principles. The first topic is “Intro to Pharmacodynamics.” I start by discussing the different MOA a drug can work by and then having a deeper look at receptors (01:54). Then I look at the Law of Mass Action and how this applies to receptor affinity (10:32). This brings me to a very important LO which examines the dose-effect relationships of drugs with a look a at some really important graphs (13:42). There is only one SAQ to review at the ...
Jan 28, 2025•37 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Happy New Year! I’m joined today with a very special guest and current primary exam examiner Dr Anthony. In this episode we take a in depth look at the Pharmacokinetics of Propofol TCI. Anthony has curated this talk over multiple years and starts of by explaining the main equations you should know (05:35). We then integrate these equations into the classic Propofol Cp vs Time graph (11:52). This leads us on to talking about the compartment model (20:11) and how this applies to the ‘Marsh’ TCI mo...
Jan 12, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Season 4Ep. 1
I’m joined today by a special guest Justin and we go through an overlooked topic of ‘Immunology & Hypersensitivity.’ The first learning objective is to review how the body defends against infection (05:46) and then look how this is effects under anaesthesia (14:06). Finally, we have a long conversation about the pathophysiology of hypersensitivity (16:22) and the clinical context of the treatment of anaphylaxis (24:18). I want to thank Justin again for joining me today and as always if you h...
Dec 07, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Today is the last topic of our cardiac physiology series “Measurement.” I start of by looking at different techniques to measure non-invasive BP from auscultation (01:31) to oscillometry (07:03). Then I look at an invasive method being arterial lines and this is divided into how it works (11:15) and sources of error (17:54). The last LO for today covers different techniques to measure cardiac output (27:41). To finish as always, we look at the past SAQs (33:35). Thanks for listening! As always i...
Nov 18, 2024•46 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In today’s episode I cover the ‘Past Saqs’ from ‘Applied Cardiac Physiology.” The first SAQ looks at the consequence of tourniquet release after two hours (01:23) followed by the process’s that cause oliguria in hypovolemic shock (09:45). Then I go through the model answers for CVS responses in severe blood loss (14:39), the effects of infusing Hartmann’s solution (16:51) and briefly the impact of IPPV (21:52). Finally, the remaining SAQs look at the effects of a central neuraxial blockade (22:4...
Oct 13, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Today I'm doing a 'Live Practice Viva'. Thanks to Celia for doing this!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. The two topics were: Immune System and Neurophysiology. Topic 1 starts (02:32) with 1 minute thinking time and Topic 2 starts (07:33). We then go through some feedback. Thanks for watching! As always if you have any feedback let me know at anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com
Oct 02, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Today I cover the topic ‘Applied Cardiac Physiology.” This is the biggest topic so far in our cardiology series and I had to divide it into 2 parts. Today I look at the LO’s starting first with the CVS effects of pneumoperitoneum (01:19) and the effects that occur with changes in patient position (06:13). Then I discuss the cardiovascular responses to exercise (12:45), Valsalva (16:58) and positive pressure ventilation (22:30). Then we go into depth examining the changes that occur with ageing (...
Sep 24, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Today I cover the topic ‘Regional Circulation.” This has one very big learning objective that looks at the factors that govern blood pressure. To understand this, we have to first understand how the systemic circulation works (02:29) and second the physics which control blood flow (08:42), together this helps us to understand the factors that make blood pressure (18:07). I then take a deeper look at total peripheral vascular resistance (19:55) and microcirculation (24:49). The BIG topic for toda...
Aug 28, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Today I cover a huge topic ‘Control of Cardiac Output & Pressure.” This used to be one big learning objective with 4 subsections that I will go through today. Frist I define and describe the classic terms of preload, afterload and contractility (01:19). Then I delve into the frank starling mechanism (12:34). Followed by a long look at the Guyton Curves (16:02) and the LV Pressure-Volume Loop (28:38). At the end I have some time to look at the past SAQs (34:04). This is a very diagram heavy t...
Jul 31, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Today I cover the ‘Myocardial Oxygen Supply and Demand.' This topic has 2 main learning objectives, first I cover the anatomy of the heart including the coronary vessels (0:55) and then take a more in depth look at the factors that affect supply and demand (12:54). As always, I end with reviewing the past SAQs, today I have some from the ANZCA and the CICM exams (27:10). Next episode I will go through ‘Control of Cardia Output and Pressure.’ Thanks for listening! As always if you have any feedba...
Jul 09, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Today I’m back with the first topic for Cardiac Physiology – ‘Electrophysiology.’ This is a huge first topic despite only covering two learning objects. I start by covering the ionic basis of automaticity (01:22) then look at the normal and abnormal process of cardiac excitation (04:02). I briefly then cover the basis of an ECG (12:58), the factors that affect cardiac electrical activity along with the pathway of electrical activity generation in the heart (17:55). Finally, to finish this first ...
Jun 25, 2024•48 min•Season 3Ep. 2
I'm back for season 3, in this season I'm going to cover cardiac physiology with the aim to finish this topic before the next primary written sitting. I also have a few announcements including a viva boot camp. If you are interested send me a email: anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com Thank as always for listening!
Jun 11, 2024•4 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Happy New Year listeners! Today’s "MiniPod" is sadly my last for a few months as I take a break to sit my part 2 exam. I have put a lot in this pod and it’s not really that “mini.” I first start by discussing the foetal circulation and the shunts that help this circulation with the transition from foetal to neonatal circulation (01:30). Then I look at the differences in the anatomy of neonatal airway and the clinical implications of this (09:48). Finally, we look that physiological difference be...
Jan 05, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Today’s "MiniPod" reviewed the physiological changes that occur in pregnancy with a focus on the cardiorespiratory systems. I initially give a brief overview of the factors that cause these changes (00:40) followed by first looking at the cardiovascular system changes (02:40) and then the respiratory system (09:42). With these topics it's key to have a structure, describing pregnancy by trimesters and having broad subheadings allow you to get breadth of knowledge across. I utilise this approach ...
Nov 16, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Today I'm back with another practice Viva. Thanks to Abe for doing this!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. The two topics were: General Anaesthesia/Sleep and Blood glucose/Insulin. Topic 1 starts (01:55) with 1 minute thinking time and Topic 2 starts (07:50). We then go through some feedback. Thanks for watching! As always if you have any feedback let me know at anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com
Oct 05, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Today I'm back with another practice Viva. Thanks to Ben for doing this!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. The two topics were: Oxygen supply to the Anaesthetic Machine and Oxytocin. Topic 1 starts (02:00) with 1 minute thinking time and Topic 2 starts (08:00). We then go through some feedback. Thanks for watching! As always if you have any feedback let me know at anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com
Oct 02, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 6
My first ever reaction pod! The 2023.2 primary exam was unexpected in many ways and I think is the biggest hint so far that the primary exam is changing! I share my big takeaways and don’t worry because I have some tips on how you can succeed with future sittings. I quickly recap the 15 saqs (01:26) and the discuss my first takeaway (05:21) which is that saqs are now more about understanding and clinical application rather than facts. I give my tips on what this means on how you should approach ...
Aug 29, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Today’s "MiniPod" discussion went a bit longer than expected and I covered the Neuromuscular Junction and Suxamethonium. I broke the NMJ physiology into three sections, firstly looking at acetylcholine itself, then the pathway of the action potential across the NMJ and lastly the types of ACH receptors (01:19). Then for the first time on this pod we discuss the pharmacology of a drug, looking at the pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of Sux (14:59). After covering these core to...
Aug 21, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 4
I'm back today with another "MiniPod" where we discuss the principles of Pulse Oximetry and sources of error. This is a core clinical measurement topic and an examiner favourite with a low SAQ pass rate. I first start off with the basic principles of how the device works (00:40) and then talk about the common sources of error (08:19). Then I look at the past SAQ's, lucky there is only two options on what can be asked (12:52). Finally, we look at the past viva opening stems and discuss some weird...
Jul 18, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Today is the first "MiniPod" where we discuss the ionic basis of automaticity the normal and abnormal processes of cardiac excitation. In other words the Slow response Action Potential vs Fast response Action Potential. I have divided these episodes into three sections: facts and knowledge, past SAQs and reviewing viva opening stems. I start with a basic review of pacemaker cells in the heart (01:48), then compare the fast vs slow AP (06:56). We look at a model answer for past SAQs (15:42) and t...
Jun 19, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 2
We are back with the official launch of Season 2!! This is an amazing episode where I am joined by 3 candidates that have just passed the Primary Exam in 2023.1. Nathan, San-Rene and Elliot are so open and honest about the real struggles of sitting the Primary Exam and share their journey from the contemplative phase and study planning to the written exam and then finally the viva's. We explore some real challenges such as how to study for the exam while maintaining a normal family life and what...
Jun 05, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Another Practice VIVA we recorded during the 2022.2 sitting. Sound quality isn't the best because I was new to recording back then. Thanks to Peter for doing this practice viva!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. The two topics were: Propofol bolus and Heparins. Topic 1 starts (00:59) with 1 minute thinking time and Topic 2 starts (07:00). We then go through some feedback. Thanks for watching! As always if you have any feedback let me know at anirudh@sweetdre...
May 03, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 12
We recorded this viva during the 2022.2 sitting. It has been uploaded on the website and Youtube and I am re-sharing it as it gets close to the 2023 viva. Sound quality isn't the best because I was new to recording back then. Thanks to Justin for doing this practice viva!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. The two topics were: Anaphylaxis and Pulse Oximeter. Topic 1 starts (01:49) with 1 minute thinking time and Topic 2 starts (07:54). We then go through some...
Apr 23, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Today we come to the end of the Respiratory Physiology Topic and finish with ‘Respiratory Measurement.’ This is a nice way to finish a huge section of the curriculum and there are only two LO’s to cover. First I look at respiratory acidosis (02:56) and then I look at various methods to measure to respiratory function (i.e Flow-Volume Loops) (09:29). As always, we finish by going over the past SAQ’s from the ANZCA and CICM exam (20:41). Now this episode marks the end of our normal format for a sh...
Mar 09, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 10
