VIVAs · 2021A

2021 First Sitting VIVAs

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

View 2021A SAQs →

Exam outcomes

66% (60/91)Written pass · MCQ + SAQ

95% (58/61)Oral pass · VIVAs

63.0% (58/92)*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

2021A

VIVA 1

Respiratory Physiology

76%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of respiratory physiology. What is compliance?

Current · V5 (2025) C3.iii · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2021A

VIVA 2

Haemodialysis

76%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of haemodialysis. What are the principles of haemodialysis?

Current · V5 (2025) E2.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2021A

VIVA 3

Invasive Arterial Monitoring Systems

86%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of invasive arterial monitoring systems. What are the features of an invasive arterial monitoring system that improve accuracy of the waveform display? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) D6.ii · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2021A

VIVA 4

Maternofoetal Physiology

71%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of maternofoetal physiology. This is a normal blood gas of a pregnant woman at term breathing room air. Outline the changes and explain their physiological basis. pH 7.45 pO2 105 mmHg pCO2 30 mmHg HCO3- 20 mmol/L BE -2

Current · V5 (2025) P1.i · primary C8.iii G2.i

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2021A

VIVA 5

Your Understanding of the Cranial Nerve Reflexes

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the cranial nerve reflexes. Please describe the pupillary light reflex.

Current · V5 (2025) H1.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2021A

VIVA 6

Haematological Physiology and Pharmacology

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of haematological physiology and pharmacology. Outline the different blood groups and explain what determines them.

Current · V5 (2025) N1.iii · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2021A

VIVA 7

Glucose Physiology and Related Pharmacology

29%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of glucose physiology and related pharmacology. Can you describe the storage of glucose in the body?

Current · V5 (2025) K1.iii · primary L1.ii

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2021A

VIVA 8

Measurement of Cardiac Output and the Determinants of Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of measurement of cardiac output and the determinants of systemic vascular resistance (SVR). How can the cardiac output be measured?

Current · V5 (2025) D3.ii · primary D4.iii D6.iv

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

Day 2

2021A

VIVA 1

Propofol Pharmacology

57%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of propofol pharmacology. What is in an ampoule or bottle of propofol?

Current · V5 (2025) H6.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2021A

VIVA 2

Intravenous Fluids and Their Effects on the Body

81%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of intravenous fluids and their effects on the body. What are the biochemical effects of infusing large volumes (2 to 3 liters) of normal saline to an adult patient?

Current · V5 (2025) F2.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2021A

VIVA 3

Measurement

81%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of measurement. By what methods can the concentration of oxygen in inspired gas be measured? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C9.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2021A

VIVA 4

Acid Base Physiology

67%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of acid base physiology. What is an acid and how much acid does the body produce daily?

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

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2021A

VIVA 5

Physiology of Oxygen

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of the physiology of oxygen. Please outline the steps and numerical values of the oxygen cascade. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C7.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2021A

VIVA 6

Cardiovascular Physiology

86%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

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).

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

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2021A

VIVA 7

Viscoelastic Measures of Coagulation and Pharmacology of Antiplatelet Drugs

52%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

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?

Current · V5 (2025) N1.iv · primary N4.i

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2021A

VIVA 8

Your Understanding of the Anatomy of the Liver

86%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the anatomy of the liver. This is the functional unit of the liver. What are the structures labelled A to E? What is the significance of this arrangement? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) J2.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

Day 3

2021A

VIVA 1

Metabolism Related to Acid-Base Physiology

95%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of metabolism related to acid-base physiology. What does this blood gas show? pH 7.10 BE -20.4 HCO3- 8 mmol/L Na+ 145 mmol/L K+ 4.4 mmol/L Cl- 113 mmol/L

Current · V5 (2025) G2.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2021A

VIVA 2

Oxygen Delivery Devices

81%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of oxygen delivery devices. (Image removed from report.) How does this device work?

Current · V5 (2025) C10.ii · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2021A

VIVA 3

Opioid Pharmacology

81%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of opioid pharmacology. How do opioids produce analgesia?

Current · V5 (2025) H6.iii · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2021A

VIVA 4

Cardiovascular Physiology and Measurement

52%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and measurement. This is an arterial waveform in a healthy young adult. Indicate the points from A to D, and what determines the shape of the waveform? . (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) D6.ii · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2021A

VIVA 5

Physiology of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

90%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of the physiology of carbon dioxide (CO2). (Image removed from report.) How is CO2 carried in the blood?

Current · V5 (2025) C7.iii · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2021A

VIVA 6

Haematology

81%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of haematology. What is blood plasma and what are its non-protein components?

Current · V5 (2025) N1.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2021A

VIVA 7

Neuromuscular Transmission and Neuromuscular Monitoring

19%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of neuromuscular transmission and neuromuscular monitoring. How is the end plate potential generated? How is it different from the miniature end plate potential?

Current · V5 (2025) I2.i · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2021A

VIVA 8

Physiology of Vomiting

71%Successful candidates

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of the physiology of vomiting. Define nausea and vomiting. Describe the sequential muscle contractions that occur when vomiting.

Current · V5 (2025) J1.iv · primary

Official source: 2021A CICM Examiner Report · page 11