VIVAs · 2010A

2010 First Sitting VIVAs

8 VIVA stations from the CICM examiner report for this sitting. Examiner wording, report provenance and reported performance data are preserved.

View 2010A SAQs →

Exam outcomes

80% (8/10)Written pass · MCQ + SAQ
75% (6/8)Oral pass · VIVAs
60.0% (6/10)*Overall pass · CICMWrecks-derived
How passing worked

Written pass: candidates successful in both written components (MCQ + SAQ) and progressing to the oral examination, divided by candidates presenting for the written examination.

Oral pass: candidates successful after the oral component, divided by candidates sitting the oral examination. The First Part oral component consists of VIVAs.

* Overall pass: a CICMWrecks-derived contextual figure: final successful candidates ÷ (candidates presenting for the written examination + candidates carrying a written pass). It is not a CICM-reported pass percentage.

VIVA stations

2010A

VIVA 1

100%Successful candidates
Opening prompt
This viva will discuss dose response curves and the information that can be gained from them.
Current · V5 (2025) B2.iii · primary H6.iii
Official source: 2010A CICM Examiner Report · page 16

2010A

VIVA 2

Hypoxemia, Oxygen Therapy and Pulse Oximetry the Following Is a Blood Gas of a Young Person Who Has Taken a Sedative Drug Overdose
62.5%Successful candidates
Opening prompt
This viva will test your knowledge of hypoxemia, oxygen therapy and pulse oximetry The following is a blood gas of a young person who has taken a sedative drug overdose. pH 7.2 PO2 40 mmHg PCO2 80 mmHg HCO3- 28 mmols/L Describe this blood gas Apart from being asked to describe the blood gas, candidates were also asked about the Henderson-Hasselbach equation, causes of hypoxaemia, pulmonary shunt, response to supplemental oxygen and pulse oximetry.
Current · V5 (2025) G2.i · primary C10.ii C8.ii C9.i
Official source: 2010A CICM Examiner Report · page 16

2010A

VIVA 3

100%Successful candidates
Opening prompt
This station will explore cardiovascular physiology, positive pressure ventilation and aspects of measurement. This is a trace of the arterial blood pressure in a mechanically ventilated patient. It is well known that variations in blood pressure can occur with respiration. Outline the physiology that explains why these blood pressure changes occur?
Current · V5 (2025) D6.ii · primary C8.i D4.ii D5.ii
Official source: 2010A CICM Examiner Report · page 17

2010A

VIVA 4

25%Successful candidates
Opening prompt
This station is concerned with the physiology and pharmacology related to the musculoskeletal system
Current · V5 (2025) I1.ii · primary B3.vi I1.i I1.v I3.i Q.i
Official source: 2010A CICM Examiner Report · page 17

2010A

VIVA 5

Intravenous Fluids, Colligative Properties What Is in a Bag of Normal Saline? Areas of Knowledge That Candidates Were Tested on Included Concepts of Osmolality, Osmolarity, Anion Gap, Mannitol, and Colligative Properties of Fluid
87.5%Successful candidates
Opening prompt
This Viva will examine knowledge of intravenous fluids, colligative properties What is in a bag of Normal Saline? Areas of knowledge that
Current · V5 (2025) F2.i · primary F1.i F1.iii L1.iii L2.v
Official source: 2010A CICM Examiner Report · page 17

2010A

VIVA 6

Liver Physiology and Diuretics
87.5%Successful candidates
Opening prompt
This Viva will examine liver physiology and diuretics. During this Viva
Current · V5 (2025) J2.iii · primary B1.iv E3.i J2.ii
Official source: 2010A CICM Examiner Report · page 18

2010A

VIVA 7

Pharmacokinetics and Statistics Draw the Concentration Time Curve for an Intravenous Bolus of Fentanyl
87.5%Successful candidates
Opening prompt
This viva will test knowledge of pharmacokinetics and statistics Draw the concentration time curve for an intravenous bolus of fentanyl. At this Viva
Current · V5 (2025) B1.i · primary B1.iii B1.iv H6.iii
Official source: 2010A CICM Examiner Report · page 18

2010A

VIVA 8

Spinal Cord Anatomy, Local Anaesthetics and Analgesics Draw a Cross-Sectional Figure of the Spinal Cord, at the Level of C3, and Describe the Functional Anatomy and Blood Supply of the Spinal Cord at That Level
37.5%Successful candidates
Opening prompt
This Viva will test knowledge of spinal cord anatomy, local anaesthetics and analgesics Draw a cross-sectional figure of the spinal cord, at the level of C3, and describe the functional anatomy and blood supply of the spinal cord at that level.
Current · V5 (2025) H4.i · primary H1.ii H6.ii H6.iii
Official source: 2010A CICM Examiner Report · page 18