VIVAs · 2017A

2017 First Sitting VIVAs

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

View 2017A SAQs →

Exam outcomes

75% (43/57)Written pass · MCQ + SAQ

86% (37/43)Oral pass · VIVAs

64.9% (37/57)*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.

Day 1

2017A

VIVA 1

Your Understanding of the Control of Ventilation

82%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will examine your understanding of the control of ventilation. Describe the physiological reasons for an increased respiratory rate and the mechanism by which these occur.

Current · V5 (2025) C2.i · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2017A

VIVA 2

Blood Groups and Coagulation

86%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of blood groups and coagulation. Describe blood groups.

Current · V5 (2025) N1.iii · primary N1.iv

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2017A

VIVA 3

Myocardial Performance, Lusitropy and Blood Pressure Regulation

91%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will examine myocardial performance, lusitropy and blood pressure regulation. How is blood pressure regulated acutely?

Current · V5 (2025) D4.i · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2017A

VIVA 4

Classification of Bacteria

95%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will examine the classification of bacteria. What is illustrated in this picture? (Image removed.)

Current · V5 (2025) O1.i · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2017A

VIVA 5

Cardiac Physiology and Measurement

86%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will examine cardiac physiology and measurement. Using the diagram provided, draw and label the cardiac conduction pathway. (Image removed.)

Current · V5 (2025) D1.iii · primary M1.ii

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2017A

VIVA 6

Cerebral Perfusion, Its Control and Measurement

86%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will examine your knowledge of cerebral perfusion, its control and measurement. What is a normal cerebral blood flow and how is this distributed?

Current · V5 (2025) H2.ii · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2017A

VIVA 7

Your Understanding of the Gas Laws

77%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will assess your understanding of the gas laws. Describe the composition of gas found at points A, B and C. (Image removed.)

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2017A

VIVA 8

Your Understanding of Lung Volumes

91%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will test your understanding of lung volumes. Describe this graph of lung volumes. (Image removed.)

Current · V5 (2025) C4.i · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

Day 2

2017A

VIVA 1

Some Physiological Causes of Polyuria

67%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will examine some physiological causes of polyuria. A patient has been weaned from several days of positive pressure ventilation and extubated. Over the next 5 hours she becomes polyuric. Explain the physiological reasons for this.

Current · V5 (2025) C8.i · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2017A

VIVA 2

95%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about carbon dioxide. What are the features of a capnograph? (Image removed.)

Current · V5 (2025) C9.ii · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2017A

VIVA 3

Pharmacology of Propofol and Ketamine

100%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will examine the pharmacology of propofol and ketamine. What is the mechanism of action of propofol?

Current · V5 (2025) H6.i · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2017A

VIVA 4

Acid/base Physiology

95%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will examine acid/base physiology. What is the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation?

Current · V5 (2025) G1.iv · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2017A

VIVA 5

71%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

What is the cardiovascular response to a rapid and sudden loss of 1000 mls of blood?

Current · V5 (2025) D5.i · primary D3.iii

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2017A

VIVA 6

Anatomy and Physiology Related to Central Venous Pressure

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will test your knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to central venous pressure. Identify the structures on the diagram below. Which nerve is anatomically associated with structures 2 and 7? (Image removed.)

Current · V5 (2025) D1.v · primary D6.iii

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2017A

VIVA 7

Neuromuscular Junction and of Assessment of Neuromuscular Blockade

43%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will test your knowledge of the neuromuscular junction and of assessment of neuromuscular blockade. Name the structures marked on the diagram at A, B, C and D. (Image removed.)

Current · V5 (2025) I1.iii · primary I3.i

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2017A

VIVA 8

Your Understanding of the Oxygen Cascade

100%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will test your understanding of the oxygen cascade. Describe the oxygen cascade. (Image removed.)

Current · V5 (2025) C7.i · primary

Official source: 2017A CICM Examiner Report · page 11