VIVAs · 2019A

2019 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 2019A SAQs →

Exam outcomes

63% (40/63)Written pass · MCQ + SAQ

98% (40/41)Oral pass · VIVAs

62.5% (40/64)*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.

Carry-over: 1 candidate entered the oral component carrying a written pass from a previous sitting.

* 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

2019A

VIVA 1

100%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This is the plasma concentration-time curve. Describe the features of this curve. What information does it give about a drug’s pharmacokinetic profile? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) B3.iii · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 7

2019A

VIVA 2

81%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about paracetamol and its toxicity.

Current · V5 (2025) H6.iii · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 7

2019A

VIVA 3

Opioid Pharmacology

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore opioid pharmacology. What is the mechanism of action of morphine?

Current · V5 (2025) H6.iii · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 7

2019A

VIVA 4

76%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about the ECG and important electrical currents in the heart. Relate the phases of the ventricular myocyte action potential to the normal ECG. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) D6.i · primary D2.i

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 7

2019A

VIVA 5

95%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about the physiology and function of the liver. Using the schematic below please outline the functional anatomy of the liver. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) J2.iii · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 7

2019A

VIVA 6

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about renal function, including fluid and chloride clearance. Define renal clearance and describe how we measure glomerular filtration.

Current · V5 (2025) E1.iv · primary F1.v

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2019A

VIVA 7

95%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about adrenaline and basic pharmacology. An ampoule of adrenaline contains the active drug and excipients (additives). What is the role of the excipient?

Current · V5 (2025) D7.i · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2019A

VIVA 8

62%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about obstetric and neonatal physiology. Outline the functions of the placenta.

Current · V5 (2025) P2.i · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

Day 2

2019A

VIVA 1

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about physiology and pharmacology related to the thyroid axis. How does the thyroid gland synthesise thyroid hormone?

Current · V5 (2025) L1.iv · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2019A

VIVA 2

86%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

Estimate the values for an arterial blood gas expected for a patient who has a saturation of 85% on FiO2 = 0.5 Explain the values. • pH • PO2 • PCO2 • HCO3 • BE • A-a gradient Use the paper and pen provided below and take into the viva.

Current · V5 (2025) G2.i · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2019A

VIVA 3

100%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about nutrition. What is the daily caloric requirement for a 65-year-old female?

Current · V5 (2025) K1.i · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2019A

VIVA 4

100%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about respiratory physiology. Which lung volumes can you measure with spirometry? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C9.iii · primary C4.i

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2019A

VIVA 5

100%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about pulmonary anatomy and circulation. Please explain the components of this pulmonary artery catheter trace. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) D6.iv · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2019A

VIVA 6

100%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about acid base physiology. What are acids and bases? Give an example of each found in the body.

Current · V5 (2025) G1.i · primary G1.iii

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2019A

VIVA 7

100%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about intracranial pressure. Explain this pressure volume relationship for intracranial pressure. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) H2.i · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2019A

VIVA 8

95%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva is about laryngeal anatomy. This is a view of the larynx as seen during intubation. Can you identify the following structures? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C1.v · primary

Official source: 2019A CICM Examiner Report · page 10