MSc Anaesthesia Exam Study Plan

19 Topics | 11 Days Remaining (July 12-22, 2026)

YOUR COMPLETE SYLLABUS AT A GLANCE

11-DAY STUDY SCHEDULE

DAY 1 - July 12 (Today, Sunday)

• General Anaesthesia: Guedel's stages (I-IV), components (hypnosis, analgesia, amnesia, relaxation), balanced anaesthesia
• Pre-op: ASA classification (I-VI), Mallampati grading (I-IV), NPO guidelines (6h solids, 2h clear), pre-medication drugs
• Make a table: ASA I-VI with examples - this is always asked

DAY 2 - July 13 (Monday)

• IV induction agents: Propofol (dose 1.5-2.5 mg/kg), Thiopentone, Etomidate, Ketamine - compare advantages/disadvantages in a table
• RSI steps: Pre-oxygenation -> Cricoid pressure -> Drug sequence -> Intubate
• Volatile agents: ISO/SEVO/DES - compare MAC values, characteristics
• MAC concept: what it means, factors that increase/decrease MAC

DAY 3 - July 14 (Tuesday)

• TIVA: Propofol infusion, opioids (fentanyl/remifentanil), dexmedetomidine, BIS monitoring
• Balanced anaesthesia combinations
• Airway devices: Face masks -> Oropharyngeal -> LMA (sizes, insertion) -> ETT (sizes, cuff)
• Difficult airway algorithm (ASA/DAS algorithm) - draw it out as a flowchart
• Capnography waveform interpretation

DAY 4 - July 15 (Wednesday)

• Depolarizing (Suxamethonium: 1-1.5 mg/kg, fasciculations, hyperkalemia, contraindications) vs Non-depolarizing (Vecuronium, Rocuronium)
• Reversal: Neostigmine (with glycopyrrolate), Sugammadex (reverses rocuronium/vecuronium directly)
• Fluid management: Holliday-Segar formula for maintenance, crystalloid vs colloid
• Blood transfusion: crossmatch, triggers (Hb <7-8 g/dL), complications

DAY 5 - July 16 (Thursday)

• Emergence: criteria for extubation (conscious, following commands, adequate tidal volume, SpO2, reversal confirmed)
• Laryngospasm management: jaw thrust -> 100% O2 -> Suxamethonium 0.1-0.5 mg/kg
• Malignant hyperthermia: triggered by suxamethonium + volatile agents, treatment = Dantrolene 2.5 mg/kg
• Aspiration (Mendelson's syndrome), intraoperative awareness

DAY 6 - July 17 (Friday)

• Paediatric: physiological differences, airway anatomy differences, uncuffed vs cuffed tubes, paediatric drug doses
• Obstetric: physiological changes in pregnancy, Mendelson's risk, spinal for LSCS (hypotension - left lateral tilt, ephedrine/phenylephrine), epidural for labour
• Geriatric: reduced MAC, polypharmacy, fragile veins, thermoregulation
• Emergency surgery: full stomach precautions, RSI

DAY 7 - July 18 (Saturday)

• Regional vs GA: advantages (awake patient, less systemic effects, post-op analgesia)
• Anatomy: vertebral levels (T4 = nipple, T10 = umbilicus, L1 = groin) - memorize dermatomes
• Brachial plexus: roots C5-T1, trunks, divisions, cords, branches
• Lumbar plexus (L1-L4), Sacral plexus (L4-S3)
• Local anaesthetics: Esters (Procaine, Cocaine) vs Amides (Lidocaine, Bupivacaine, Ropivacaine) - "Amides have 2 i's in name"
• LAST (Local Anaesthetic Systemic Toxicity): CNS first (seizures) then cardiac (VF), treatment = 20% Intralipid

DAY 8 - July 19 (Sunday)

• Spinal anaesthesia: L3-L4 or L4-L5 space, hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5%, doses, sitting vs lateral positioning
• Complications: Hypotension (treat with fluids + vasopressors), PDPH (blood patch), High spinal (intubate + ventilate)
• Epidural: Loss of resistance technique, test dose (lignocaine + adrenaline), catheter placement
• CSE: needle-through-needle technique, advantages over either alone
• Draw the cross-section anatomy of the spine - meninges layers (pia, arachnoid, dura)

DAY 9 - July 20 (Monday)

• Brachial plexus approaches: Interscalene (shoulder/C5-C7), Supraclavicular (whole arm), Infraclavicular, Axillary (elbow/hand)
• Lower limb: Femoral nerve block (knee surgery), Sciatic nerve block, Adductor canal block, Popliteal block
• Truncal: TAP block (T6-L1, abdominal surgeries), Paravertebral block, Intercostal block
• Nerve localization: Landmark -> PNS (motor response) -> Ultrasound (UGRA - gold standard now)
• Adjuvants: Adrenaline (prolongs block, marker of IV injection), Dexmedetomidine, Fentanyl

DAY 10 - July 21 (Tuesday)

• Regional complications: Immediate (LAST, hypotension, high block) vs Delayed (nerve injury, infection, haematoma)
• ASRA anticoagulation guidelines - key intervals before/after neuraxial block
• PCA: concept, lock-out interval, background infusion
• Multimodal analgesia: Paracetamol + NSAID + Opioid + Regional (reduces opioid requirement)
• ERAS protocol components: pre-op carb loading, minimal fasting, early mobilization, multimodal analgesia

DAY 11 - July 22 (Wednesday - day before exam)

• PACU: Aldrete score (activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, SpO2 - score 0/1/2 each, discharge at ≥9)
• Postoperative monitoring: VAS/NRS pain scores, GCS, urine output
• Handover SBAR protocol
• Revision focus: LAST treatment, malignant hyperthermia, difficult airway algorithm, spinal complications, ASA classification - these are classic exam questions

KEY TABLES TO MEMORIZE (make these on paper)

• Isoflurane: 1.15%, Sevoflurane: 2.0%, Desflurane: 6.0%

• Stop injection -> Call for help -> 100% O2 -> Seizure: benzodiazepine -> Cardiac arrest: 20% Intralipid 1.5 mL/kg bolus then infusion -> Avoid vasopressin, CCBs, beta-blockers

STUDY STRATEGY TIPS

1. Do not try to read everything linearly - use your notes/class material, not textbooks at this stage
2. Teach it back: After each topic, close your notes and explain it aloud for 5 minutes - this is the single most effective recall technique
3. High-yield questions to prepare:
   • "Write a note on Malignant Hyperthermia"
   • "Complications of spinal anaesthesia"
   • "LAST - diagnosis and management"
   • "Mallampati classification"
   • "Spinal vs epidural comparison"
   • "Sugammadex mechanism of action"
   • "Aldrete score"
   • "Anaesthesia for LSCS"
4. Draw diagrams: Brachial plexus, vertebral column cross-section, difficult airway algorithm - visual memory is faster to recall under exam pressure
5. Group pharmacology: Learn all drugs by class, not individually - it reduces memory load