VIVAs · 2022A

2022 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 2022A SAQs →

Exam outcomes

53% (49/92)Written pass · MCQ + SAQ

88% (44/50)Oral pass · VIVAs

47.3% (44/93)*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

2022A

VIVA 1

Your Understanding of Coagulation

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of coagulation. How do viscoelastic haemostatic assays like TEG and ROTEM measure coagulation?

Current · V5 (2025) N3.i · primary N1.iv

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2022A

VIVA 2

Your Understanding of Gentamicin Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of gentamicin pharmacology. How does gentamicin work against bacteria?

Current · V5 (2025) O2.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2022A

VIVA 3

Your Understanding of Cardiovascular Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of cardiovascular physiology. How may stroke volume change with heart rate?

Current · V5 (2025) D5.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2022A

VIVA 4

Your Understanding of the Immune System

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the immune system. What are the key features and possible benefits of innate immunity?

Current · V5 (2025) N2.ii · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2022A

VIVA 5

Your Understanding of Acid-Base Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of acid-base physiology. List the abnormalities in this arterial blood gas analysis. FiO2 0.5 pH 7.1 PCO2 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa) PO2 100 mmHg (13.3 kPa) HCO3- 7 mmol/L Base deficit -19.9 Na+ 133 mmol/L K+ 4.5 mmol/L Cl- 105 mmol/L Anion gap 25 Lactate 7 mmol/L

Current · V5 (2025) G2.i · primary G1.iv K1.v

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2022A

VIVA 6

Your Understanding of Respiratory Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of respiratory physiology. How might the functional residual capacity change when you preoxygenate a patient with 100% oxygen in the supine position?

Current · V5 (2025) C4.ii · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 8

2022A

VIVA 7

Your Understanding of the Physiology and Pharmacology of Oxygen

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the physiology and pharmacology of oxygen. What is the role of oxygen in the body? How would you calculate the total oxygen content in blood when the haemoglobin oxygen saturation rises from 90% to 95% and the PaO2 rises from 60 mmHg (8 kPa) to 75 mmHg (10 kPa)?

Current · V5 (2025) C7.i · primary C10.i

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022A

VIVA 8

Your Understanding of Dialysis and Fluid Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of dialysis and fluid physiology. Describe the principles by which substances are cleared by dialysis.

Current · V5 (2025) E2.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

Day 2

2022A

VIVA 1

Neurophysiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of neurophysiology and pharmacology. Tell me about the structure and function of GABAA receptors.

Current · V5 (2025) H2.vii · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022A

VIVA 2

Neurophysiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of neurophysiology and pharmacology. Tell me about the structure and function of GABAA receptors.

Current · V5 (2025) H2.vii · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022A

VIVA 3

Your Understanding of Renal Physiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of renal physiology and pharmacology. Describe the processes by which renal blood flow is regulated.

Current · V5 (2025) E1.iii · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022A

VIVA 4

Your Understanding of the Oxygen Cascade

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the oxygen cascade. Describe the stepwise changes in the partial pressure of oxygen observed in the oxygen cascade.

Current · V5 (2025) C7.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022A

VIVA 5

Your Understanding of the Circulation of Blood

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the circulation of blood. How is blood distributed in different parts of circulation?

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022A

VIVA 6

Your Understanding of Hepatic Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of hepatic physiology. This is a hepatic lobule. Please indicate the structures numbered 1 to 5. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) J2.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022A

VIVA 7

Your Understanding of Central Venous Pressure

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of central venous pressure. Describe the components of this normal waveform. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) D6.iii · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022A

VIVA 8

Your Understanding of Microbiology, Antimicrobials and Resistance

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of microbiology, antimicrobials and resistance. A patient develops a rash receiving meropenem and a change of antibiotics is required. What pharmacological properties would you need to consider when choosing an alternative option and provide examples.

Current · V5 (2025) O2.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

Day 3

2022A

VIVA 1

Your Understanding of Respiratory Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of respiratory physiology. Describe the V/Q ratios throughout the lung in the erect position for a healthy individual.

Current · V5 (2025) C6.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022A

VIVA 2

Your Understanding of Parasympathetic Nervous System Physiology and Cranial Nerve Reflexes

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of parasympathetic nervous system physiology and cranial nerve reflexes. What are the physiological consequences of interrupting vagal nerve transmission at the level of C2?

Current · V5 (2025) H1.i · primary H3.i

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022A

VIVA 3

Your Understanding of Immunology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of immunology. What are the immunological events leading to IgE mediated anaphylaxis?

Current · V5 (2025) N2.iv · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022A

VIVA 4

Your Understanding of Neuromuscular Monitoring, Physiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of neuromuscular monitoring, physiology and pharmacology. Name the test and describe how it is performed. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) I2.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022A

VIVA 5

Your Understanding of Physiology of the Acetylcholine Receptors

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of physiology of the acetylcholine receptors. Describe the acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction.

Current · V5 (2025) I1.iii · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022A

VIVA 6

Your Understanding of the Control of Blood Sugar and Metabolic Responses to Insulin

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the control of blood sugar and metabolic responses to insulin. Explain how fluctuations of blood sugar level are minimized between meals.

Current · V5 (2025) L1.ii · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022A

VIVA 7

Your Understanding of Pain Pathways

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of pain pathways. How is pain sensed following a skin incision?

Current · V5 (2025) H4.i · primary

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022A

VIVA 8

Your Understanding of Urea and Renal Tubular Function

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of urea and renal tubular function. Why do we produce urea and how effective is it as an osmole?

Current · V5 (2025) E1.v · primary F1.i F1.iii

Official source: 2022A CICM Examiner Report · page 11