VIVAs · 2022B

2022 Second Sitting VIVAs

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

View 2022B SAQs →

Exam outcomes

58% (58/100)Written pass · MCQ + SAQ

98% (60/61)Oral pass · VIVAs

58.3% (60/103)*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: 3 candidates 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

2022B

VIVA 1

Your Understanding of Temperature and Measurement

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of temperature and measurement. What is the temperature and how can I be measured?

Current · V5 (2025) M2.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022B

VIVA 2

Your Knowledge and Understanding of Respiratory Physiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge and understanding of respiratory physiology and pharmacology. Use the diagram below to demonstrate regional variability of ventilation and perfusion through the upright lung. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C6.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022B

VIVA 3

Your Understanding of Skeletal Muscle

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of skeletal muscle. What is a motor unit? Describe events in the motor unit resulting in skeletal muscle contraction and relaxation.

Current · V5 (2025) I1.ii · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022B

VIVA 4

Your Understanding of the Left Ventricle

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the left ventricle. This is an idealised pressure vs volume loop of the left ventricle in a healthy adult. Please describe the loop. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) D3.vii · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022B

VIVA 5

Liver Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of liver physiology. Please identify the labels on the diagram of the basic structure of a liver lobule. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) J2.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022B

VIVA 6

Autonomic Nervous System

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of the Autonomic Nervous System. Describe the Physiologic consequences of an unexpected cut to your hand with a sharp knife?

Current · V5 (2025) H3.iv · primary H4.i

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 9

2022B

VIVA 7

Your Understanding of Cerebral Blood Flow

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of cerebral blood flow. Describe the relationship between cerebral blood flow and 1: the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide 2: the arterial partial pressure of oxygen 3: the cerebral perfusion pressure (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) H2.ii · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022B

VIVA 8

Your Understanding of Acid-Base Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of acid-base physiology. Please interpret the following blood gas: pH: 7.30 Na: 133 mmol/L pCO2: 19 mmHg K: 4.8 mmol/L pO2: 79 mmHg Cl: 104 mmol/L HCO3: 9.0 mmol/l Lactate: 7.5 mmol/L FiO2: 30%, Temp: 37.5C Base Excess: - 16.4 mmol/L

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

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 10

Day 2

2022B

VIVA 1

Your Understanding of Respiratory – Oxygen Cascade

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of Respiratory – oxygen cascade. What is the oxygen cascade? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C7.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022B

VIVA 2

Your Knowledge and Understanding of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology. Explain the mechanical events shown in the left ventricular pressure-volume loop. (Image removed from report.)

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

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2022B

VIVA 3

Your Understanding of the Plasma Proteins

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the plasma proteins. What are the 3 most abundant types of plasma proteins and in what concentrations do they normally exist?

Current · V5 (2025) N1.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022B

VIVA 4

Your Understanding of Renal Physiology and Glomerular Function

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of renal physiology and glomerular function. Describe the regulation of renal blood flow.

Current · V5 (2025) E1.iii · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022B

VIVA 5

Your Understanding of Neurophysiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of neurophysiology. Explain this pressure-volume relationship for intracranial pressure. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) H2.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022B

VIVA 6

Your Understanding of Coagulation System

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of coagulation system. How is a viscoelastic assay performed? What do the various parts of the curve represent? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) N1.iv · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022B

VIVA 7

Your Understanding of the Pain Pathways and Analgesic Medications

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of the pain pathways and analgesic medications. Define Pain and describe how pain is detected in response to a peripheral noxious stimulus?

Current · V5 (2025) H4.i · primary H6.iii

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022B

VIVA 8

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of carbohydrate metabolism. What factors cause an increase in insulin secretion?

Current · V5 (2025) L1.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 11

Day 3

2022B

VIVA 1

Your Understanding of Acid Base Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of acid base physiology. Please interpret this blood gas. pH 7.30 pO2 400 mmHg (53.3 kPa) pCO2 30 mmHg (4 kPa) HCO3- 14 mmol/L BE – 8 mmol/L Na 140 mmol/L K 4 mmol/L Cl 120 mmol/L

Current · V5 (2025) G2.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2022B

VIVA 2

Gas Transfer Via the Placenta, and Foetal Physiology and Anatomy

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of gas transfer via the placenta, and foetal physiology and anatomy . Identify which curves belong to the major vessels involved in placental gas transfer. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) P2.v · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2022B

VIVA 3

Renal Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of renal physiology. This is a diagram of the renal vasculature. Explain the renal artery divisions beyond the arcuate artery. (Image removed from report.)

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

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2022B

VIVA 4

Your Understanding of Red Blood Cell Production, Storage, and Transfusion

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of red blood cell production, storage, and transfusion. How are red blood cells formed?

Current · V5 (2025) N1.ii · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2022B

VIVA 5

Your Understanding of Respiratory Physiology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of respiratory physiology. Using the diagram as an aid, define work of breathing and describe its components. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C3.x · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2022B

VIVA 6

Your Understanding of Cardiovascular Function

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of cardiovascular function. Explain the physiology of these 2 curves. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) D5.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 13

2022B

VIVA 7

Your Understanding of GABA Receptors and Anticonvulsant Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your understanding of GABA receptors and anticonvulsant pharmacology. What are the different types of GABA receptors?

Current · V5 (2025) H6.vi · primary H2.vii

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 13

2022B

VIVA 8

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Opening prompt

This viva will explore your knowledge of Carbohydrate metabolism. What are the things that cause an increase in insulin secretion?

Current · V5 (2025) L1.i · primary

Official source: 2022B CICM Examiner Report · page 13