Today I'm joined by a very special guest in Maddie. Maddie sat the 2025.1 exam and won the Renton! She has kindly given some of her time to share her tips leading into the last week before the vivas (02:20) and offered to give some examples opening viva stem answers (11:56). We go through more than 30 stems in total with the second half later in the episode (39:14). In between she gives some advice regarding how to transition from SAQ to Viva mode following the written (21:02). There are some amazing hidden gems she shares, and I want to thank her for taking the time to do this!! Hope you guys enjoy and thanks for watching! As always if you have any feedback let me know at anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com

Today I'm back doing a 'Live Practice Viva'. Thanks to Derek for doing this and Celia for being a special guest examiner again!! I hope you get some technical and non-technical skills from the video. As per previous episodes we covered four topics which were: Isomers/Warfarin (04:08), Resipratory changes in Pregnancy (09:08), Nausea & Vomiting (14:08) and Atelectasis & Peep (19:08). We then go through some feedback. Hope you guys enjoy and thanks for watching! As always if you have any feedback let me know at anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com

With the 2025.2 written now in the books I thought I would review this most recent paper. Harry and Robbie join me today to help with this and they will also be educating me on the use of AI. Today's episode has 2-parts, the first is a look at how AI can be used as an adjunct to study. The second (27:49), I will go through the 2025.2 exam paper blind in persual conditions while Harry and Robbie will do the same but using AI to generate a guide to what you should write in the perusal time to help better answer the question. This was an eye-opening episode for me and it showed that AI is used properly it can have a lot of credibility in the answers it's providing. It also not just an answering tool and if we can use it in the right way, it may very well change the way we teach in the future. Thanks for listening! As always if you have any feedback let me know @ anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com

This is a huge topic to cover and brings us to the end of our ‘Neurophysiology & Pain’ series. Today’s topic is “Pain Physiology” and we start straight away by looking at the normal sensory pathways (01:39). This is followed by a detailed look at one the biggest LO’s being physiological mechanism of pain (11:44). After this I quickly review the progression from acute to chronic pain (32:36), physiology of neuropathic pain (37:05) and alteration in pain perception in the elderly (39:18). As always at the end I go through the past SAQ’s (44:56). This episode is a hard one to get excited about but once you know it well it will make your life easier. Thanks for listening! As always if you have any feedback let me know @ anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com

Today’s topic is a fundamental topic when it comes to ‘Neurophysiology.’ There are more than 8 learning objectives for this topic, but they overlap quite a bit. So, I have divided this episode into two main LO’s, the first looks at ICP (02:09) and CBP (13:18). Then I briefly look at anatomy of circulation to the brain and spinal cord (30:15). Following this I look at the second main part which is spinal cord pressure (35:14). As always at the end I go through the past SAQ’s (39:07). Thanks for listening! As always if you have any feedback let me know @ anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com

Today’s topic is a little more straightforward with very few LO’s to cover but still some important concepts. I start by first going through nerve conduction physiology (01:07) followed by understanding the difference between sleep and general anaesthesia (11:29). This leads to discussing an important topic of EEG and more specifically different types of processed EEG (19:07). As always at the end I go through the past SAQ’s (24:50). Thanks for listening! As always if you have any feedback let me know @ anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com

I’m back today after a little break over the exam period with our brand-new series “Neurophysiology & Pain.” The topic today is “Functional Anatomy.” I start by first going over the basic anatomy of ANS broken down further into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system (02:38) followed a look at the important neurotransmitters and receptors in this pathway (13:27). Then I look at the structure and function of the blood brain barriers (25:51) as well as the production, reabsorption and role of CSF (30:28). There are a few SAQs to get through at the end both from ANZCA and CICM exams (38:11). Thanks for listening! As always if you have any feedback let me know @ anirudh@sweetdreamsanaesthesia.com