Examination Surgery

Section 1 Examination information and preparation

Chapter 1.1 Basic examination requirements and organisation

The Fellowship in Australasia

The Intercollegiate Specialty Examination in General Surgery in the UK and Ireland

Chapter 1.2 Preparation for the fellowship examination

Plan, prepare and practise

Awareness of the aims, format and marking scheme of the Examination

Syllabus of the Fellowship exam (FRACS only)

Structure, structure, structure

Summary/key points

Chapter 1.3 Important topics for the fellowship examination

Written paper 1

Written paper 2

Clinical viva 1

Clinical viva 2

Chapter 1.4 Suggested reading list

What to read? So many books, so little time!

Written examinations 1 and 2

Clinical vivas

Anatomy viva

Operative viva

Pathophysiology and critical care and clinical reasoning viva

General reading

Section 2 The written papers

Chapter 2.1 The written examination paper 1 - spot test questions

The examination format

Exam technique

Preparation and practising

Chapter 2.2 Common written examination spot test questions: model answers

2.2.1 Scrotal swelling

2.2.2 Breast cancer.

2.2.3 Bilateral gynaecomastia

2.2.4 Pagets disease of the nipple

2.2.5 Rectal cancer

2.2.6 Clostridium difficile colitis

2.2.7 Colitis

2.2.8 Large bowel obstruction

2.2.9 Rectal prolapse

2.2.10 Appendiceal mucocoele

2.2.11 Fistula in ano

2.2.12 Fissure-in-ano

2.2.13 Anal squamous cell carcinoma

2.2.14 Small bowel obstruction

2.2.15 Meckels diverticulum

2.2.16 Gastrointestinal stromal tumour

2.2.17 Parathyroid adenoma

2.2.18 Pancreatic cystic lesion

2.2.19 Submandibular duct stone

2.2.20 Malignant melanoma

2.2.21 Basal cell carcinoma

2.2.22 Squamous cell carcinoma

2.2.23 Lymphoscintogram

2.2.24 Pelvic fracture

2.2.25 Splenic trauma

2.2.26 Seatbelt injury

2.2.27 Barium swallow: oesophageal cancer and achalasia

2.2.28 Gastric ulcer

2.2.29 Choledochal cyst

2.2.30 Pancreatic pseudocyst

2.2.31 Diabetic foot

2.2.32 Ischaemic leg

2.2.33 Psoas abscess

Chapter 2.3 The written examination paper 2 - short answer questions

The examination format

Exam technique

Preparation and practising

Chapter 2.4 Common written examination short answer questions

2.4.1 Genetics of colorectal cancer syndromes

2.4.2 Autonomic innervation of the pelvis

2.4.3 Management of large bowel obstruction/role of colonic stents

2.4.4 Colonoscopic surveillance and complications

2.4.5 Enterocutaneous fistula

2.4.6 Solitary thyroid nodules

2.4.7 Thyrotoxicosis

2.4.8 Primary hyperparathyroidism

2.4.9 Phaeochromocytoma

2.4.10 Anterior and posterior neck triangles

2.4.11 Laparostomy

2.4.12 Malignant melanoma

2.4.13 Renal transplantation: short- and long-term complications

2.4.14 Blunt abdominal injury

2.4.15 Burns

2.4.16 Gastro-oesophageal refl ux disease

2.4.17 Obesity/bariatric surgery

2.4.18 Upper GI haemorrhage

2.4.19 Complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

2.4.20 Solid liver lesions

2.4.21 Pancreatic mass

2.4.22 Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis

2.4.23 Leg ulcers

2.4.24 Needle stick injury

Section 3 The clinical examination

Chapter 3.1 An approach to the clinical examination

The examination format

Exam technique

Preparation and practising

Chapter 3.2 The medium case clinical examination

The examination format

Exam technique

Preparation and practising

Chapter 3.3 Common medium cases

3.3.1 Breast cancer

3.3.2 Rectal cancer

3.3.3 Colon cancer

3.3.4 Ulcerative colitis

3.3.5 Oesophageal carcinoma

3.3.6 Chronic liver disease

3.3.7 Liver metastases

3.3.8 Abdominal mass

3.3.9 Malignant melanoma

Chapter 3.4 The short case clinical examination

The examination format

Exam technique

Preparation and practising

Chapter 3.5 Common short cases

3.5.1 Inguinal hernia

3.5.2 Incisional hernia

3.5.3 Goitre

3.5.4 Parotid mass

3.5.5 Neck lymphadenopathy

3.5.6 Dupuytrens contracture

3.5.7 Leg ulcers

3.5.8 Peripheral occlusive arterial disease

3.5.9 Lymphoedema

3.5.10 Varicose veins

3.5.11 Median nerve palsy

3.5.12 Ulnar nerve palsy

3.5.13 Abdominal mass

Section 4 The viva voce examination

Chapter 4.1 Surgical anatomy

The examination format

Exam technique

Preparation and practising

Chapter 4.2 Common surgical anatomy viva topics: model answers

4.2.1 Extraperitoneal inguinal region anatomy

4.2.2 Axillary anatomy

4.2.3 Thyroidectomy anatomy

4.2.4 Parotid gland anatomy and relations

4.2.5 Submandibular gland and relations

4.2.6 Blood supply of the stomach

4.2.7 Cholecystectomy anatomy

4.2.8 Intra-operative cholangiogram

4.2.9 Liver anatomy

4.2.10 The pancreas and its relations

4.2.11 Superfi cial venous system of the lower limb

4.2.12 The parathyroid glands

4.2.13 Median nerve

4.2.14 Ulnar nerve

4.2.15 Femoral triangle

4.2.16 Popliteal fossa

4.2.17 Branches of the abdominal aorta

4.2.18 Diaphragm

4.2.19 Retroperitoneal anatomy

4.2.20 Transpyloric plane

4.2.21 Transtubercular plane

4.2.22 Internal iliac artery branches

Chapter 4.3 Operative surgery

The examination format

Exam technique

Preparation and practising

Chapter 4.4 Common operative surgery viva topics: model answers

4.4.1 Inguinal hernia repair

4.4.2 Complicated femoral hernia repair

4.4.3 Axillary dissection

4.4.4 Ileostomy closure

4.4.5 Right hemicolectomy/caecal volvulus

4.4.6 Hartmanns procedure

4.4.7 Haemorrhoidectomy

4.4.8 Small bowel resection

4.4.9 Thyroglossal cysts

4.4.10 Submandibular gland excision

4.4.11 Tracheostomy

4.4.12 Trauma laparotomy

4.4.13 Perforated peptic ulcer

4.4.14 Intra-operative management of common bile duct stones

4.4.15 Trauma splenectomy

4.4.16 High ligation of the long saphenous vein

Chapter 4.5 Pathophysiology and critical care/clinical reasoning

The examination format

Exam technique

Preparation and practising

Chapter 4.6 Pathophysiology and critical care/clinical reasoning viva topics: model answers

4.6.1 Synoptic breast pathology reporting

4.6.2 Colonic polyps

4.6.3 Crohns disease

4.6.4 Carcinoid of the appendix

4.6.5 Fistula-in-ano

4.6.6 Pilonidal sinus

4.6.7 Small bowel tumours

4.6.8 Thyroid cancer

4.6.9 Multinodular goitre

4.6.10 Adrenal tumours

4.6.11 Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

4.6.12 Multi-organ dysfunction syndrome

4.6.13 Necrotising soft tissue infections

4.6.14 Mesenteric ischaemia

4.6.15 Testicular tumours

4.6.16 Tension pneumothorax

4.6.17 Barretts oesophagus

4.6.18 Oesophageal cancer

4.6.19 Stomach cancer

4.6.20 Hydatid cyst

4.6.21 Pancreatitis

4.6.22 Anticoagulation