Syllabus · Historical · V4 (2023) · Haematological System
Q1 · Physiology of Haematological System
Q1.iv · Physiology of Haematological System
Describe the process and regulation of haemostasis, coagulation, and fibrinolysis.
Written examination
SAQ history
Haemostasis — Aspirin & Haemostasis
1 exam appearance
Outline the physiological processes that occur in a blood vessel after venipuncture (80% of marks). How are these altered by the administration of aspirin (20% of marks)?
66%
Haemostasis — Clotting & Thrombolysis
1 exam appearance
Outline the major clotting factors and steps in the haemostasis pathway (70% marks). Outline the mechanism of action of thrombolytics (30% marks).
80%
Haemostasis — Fibrinolysis
1 exam appearance
Describe the fibrinolytic pathway and identify areas of interaction with the coagulation pathway (80% of marks). List two anti-fibrinolytic agents and state their specific mechanism of action (20% of marks).
8%
Haemostasis — Fibrinolysis & Alteplase
1 exam appearance
(a) Outline the process of fibrinolysis including how it interacts with the coagulation system (80% of marks). (b) Describe the mechanism of action and adverse effects of alteplase (20% of marks).
3%
Haemostasis — Fibrinolysis & TXA
1 exam appearance
Outline the process of fibrinolysis (40% marks). Write short notes on the indications, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics and side effects of tranexamic acid (60% marks).
30%
Haemostasis — Natural Anticoagulants
2 exam appearances
Describe the sequence of haemostatic events following injury to a blood vessel wall until clot stabilisation.
46%
Outline the sequence of haemostatic events after injury to a blood vessel wall (50% of marks). Discuss the role of naturally occurring anticoagulants in preventing clot formation in-vivo (50% of marks).
40%
Haemostasis — Platelets
1 exam appearance
Outline the role of platelets in blood clotting following an injury to a blood vessel.
40%
Haemostasis — Tranexamic Acid
1 exam appearance
Oral examination
VIVA history
-
2025A · Day 2 · VIVA 8
This VIVA will examine haematology physiology and pharmacology. Explain the role of platelets in haemostasis.
-
2024B · Day 2 · VIVA 8
This VIVA will examine haematological physiology, pharmacology and measurement. Describe the mechanisms that keep a blood clot localized and prevent propagation through the vasculature.
-
2024A · Day 1 · VIVA 7
This VIVA will examine coagulation physiology. This figure represents a thrombo-elastography tracing. What is a thrombo-elastography, what does it show and what is indicated by a, b, c, & d? (Image removed from report.)
-
2023B · Day 2 · VIVA 6
This viva will examine haemostasis. Tell me about the structure of a platelet.
-
2022B · Day 2 · VIVA 6
This viva will explore your understanding of coagulation system. How is a viscoelastic assay performed? What do the various parts of the curve represent? (Image removed from report.)
-
2022A · Day 1 · VIVA 1
This viva will explore your understanding of coagulation. How do viscoelastic haemostatic assays like TEG and ROTEM measure coagulation?
-
2021B · Day 1 · VIVA 3
This viva will assess your knowledge of coagulation. What are the principles behind viscoelastic haemostatic assays like TEG and ROTEM? (Image removed from report).
-
2021B · Day 2 · VIVA 8
This viva will assess your knowledge of the coagulation system. This figure represents a thrombo-elastography tracing. Describe what it shows and what is indicated by a, b, c, & d. (Image removed from report).
-
2021A · Day 2 · VIVA 7
This viva will explore your knowledge of viscoelastic measures of coagulation and pharmacology of antiplatelet drugs. (Image removed from report.) Explain the principle behind the viscoelastic methods. What information can be obtained from them?
-
2020B · Day 2 · VIVA 5
This viva will explore your knowledge of coagulation. According to the cell-based model, what happens during the initiation phase of coagulation?
-
2020B · Day 4 · VIVA 5
This viva will explore your knowledge of coagulation. Please describe the classical intrinsic pathway.
-
2019B · Day 3 · VIVA 4
This viva will explore your understanding of anticoagulation and arterial pressure. Describe the physiology of coagulation after tissue trauma.
-
2017B · Day 2 · VIVA 6
This viva will explore the physiology and pharmacology of coagulation and its laboratory assessment. Describe the events after injury to a vessel wall that lead to formation of a haemostatic plug.
-
2017A · Day 1 · VIVA 2
This viva will explore your knowledge of blood groups and coagulation. Describe blood groups.
-
2016B · Day 1 · VIVA 6
This viva tested knowledge of physical principles around flow and viscosity. It went on to look at the venous anatomy of the upper limb and chest and in vivo blood clotting.
-
2016A · Day 2 · VIVA 7
This viva tested knowledge of the coagulation system, including fibrinolysis, tests of coagulation and the pharmacology of heparin.
-
2010B · VIVA 6
This viva will test your knowledge on blood coagulation, and the pharmacology of heparin. Candidates had a good knowledge of the coagulation cascade. Heparin pharmacology proved to be an area of weakness, particularly concepts relating to loading dose, and it’s dose-response characteristics.
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.