Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Cardiovascular System
D5 · Applied Cardiovascular Physiology
D5.i · Cardiovascular Adaptation & Critical Illness
Explain the cardiovascular changes and compensatory responses in the following contexts: a. changes in posture – lying, sitting and standing, b. hypovolaemia, c. following a fluid bolus, d. anaemia, e. exercise, f. aging, g. pregnancy, h. obesity, i. critical Illness.
Written examination
SAQ history
Cardiovascular Responses — 1-L Blood Loss
1 exam appearance
Describe the cardiovascular changes that occur following the loss of 1000ml of blood in an adult.
100%
Cardiovascular Responses — Ageing
3 exam appearances
Cardiovascular Responses — Exercise
1 exam appearance
Cardiovascular Responses — Hypovolaemia Hormones
1 exam appearance
Describe the hormonal response to hypovolaemia following the acute loss of one litre of blood in an adult. Include changes that occur in the first 24 hours following the blood loss.
66%
Cardiovascular Responses — Major Haemorrhage
1 exam appearance
Describe the physiological consequences and responses after an acute haemorrhage of 2.0 litres in a healthy 70kg adult if there is no immediate fluid resuscitation.
56%
Cardiovascular Responses — Morbid Obesity
2 exam appearances
(a) Define morbid obesity (5% of marks). (b) Outline the cardiovascular changes associated with morbid obesity (95% of marks).
23%
Cardiovascular Responses — Pregnancy vs Obesity
1 exam appearance
Compare and contrast the physiological changes in the cardiovascular system in pregnancy at term and morbid obesity (BMI > 30).
2%
Cardiovascular Responses — Shock
1 exam appearance
Classify circulatory shock and provide examples (40% of marks). Outline the cardiovascular responses (60% of marks).
83%
Cardiovascular Responses — Vasovagal Syncope
1 exam appearance
Fluid Physiology — IV Saline Load
1 exam appearance
Outline the physiological responses to the rapid intravenous administration of 1 litre of 0.9 % saline to a 70 kg euvolaemic person.
25%
Cardiorespiratory Changes in Pregnancy
1 exam appearance
Describe the cardio-respiratory changes that occur throughout pregnancy (excluding parturition). Include in your answer the factors responsible for these changes.
57.8%
Cardiovascular Responses — Pregnancy
4 exam appearances
Muscle Physiology — Muscle Blood Flow
1 exam appearance
Oral examination
VIVA history
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2023A · Day 2 · VIVA 1
This VIVA will examine applied cardiovascular physiology. Describe the structural changes in the cardiovascular system in the elderly?
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2022B · Day 2 · VIVA 2
This viva will explore your knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology. Explain the mechanical events shown in the left ventricular pressure-volume loop. (Image removed from report.)
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2022B · Day 3 · VIVA 6
This viva will explore your understanding of cardiovascular function. Explain the physiology of these 2 curves. (Image removed from report.)
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2022A · Day 1 · VIVA 3
This viva will explore your understanding of cardiovascular physiology. How may stroke volume change with heart rate?
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2021A · Day 2 · VIVA 6
This viva will explore your knowledge of cardiovascular physiology. Describe the baroreceptor reflexes involved in the cardiovascular response to rapid onset hypovolaemia (for example, the loss of 20% blood volume over 10 minutes).
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2020B · Day 4 · VIVA 1
The viva will explore your knowledge of the body’s response to blood loss. Describe the physiological sensing and response following the loss of 1 litre of blood over 10 minutes in an adult male.
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2018A · Day 2 · VIVA 1
This viva will assess your knowledge of renal physiology. Describe the physiological processes which cause oliguria in response to acute hypovolaemia?
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2017B · Day 2 · VIVA 8
This viva is on the physiology and pharmacology as it relates to blood volume and tonicity. Outline the response to loss of 1 L of circulating blood in an adult.
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2017A · Day 2 · VIVA 5
What is the cardiovascular response to a rapid and sudden loss of 1000 mls of blood?
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2016B · Day 1 · VIVA 3
This viva discussed cardiovascular physiology including measurement of cardiac output, the Valsalva manoeuvre and alterations with acute blood loss.
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2015A · VIVA 7
This Viva tested knowledge on obesity and focused on the physiological cardiovascular changes, consequences for various other organ systems and drug pharmacology.
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2014B · VIVA 4
This Viva tested knowledge on cardiovascular physiology and measurement. It explored understanding of cardiac pressure waves, alterations in these with vasopressor infusion and an understanding of invasive pressure measurement.
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.