MRCS OSCE RESULTS OUT TODAY

So after 4 hours of pressing refresh screen and trying to take my mind off MRCS results by reading some biochem revision book (yes I did say that), I found out that I passed MRCS Part B and thus am now Miss Ibrahim. I can't describe how amazing it feels for all that hard work to pay off and thought I'd share some of the good news with you guys.

So after I'm done elebrating, I'll upload more info about the stations I got.

Amel

Change is coming to IWTBAS

Great news y'all. We have launched the website finally! Although it is still far from finished there are a few pages to keep you occupied for the time being.

Amel

MRCS Courses

Enjoying watching the soccer this weekend but thought I'd give you the low down on the course I went on.

I found it super difficult to pck a course as very little info is available and because they are so expensive I felt more apprehensive about making a bad choice. AFter much debate and searching, I wittled it down to 3 course:
1) The St Thomas' 7 day course costing £1200. So ths course was highly recommended by my Reg because he said they got you to practise stations on real patients. However, as it is very popular, I couldn't get a place on he course.

2) The PASTEST MRCS revision course. Costs £799 and you also get the online revision course for free. This course is run over a weekend so its only 2 days. I didn't go as I wanted something longer. A riend went and said it was excellent. Apparently you get grilled all day as the course is mostly in OSCE format and you go around in circuits. He felt it was very useful.

3) The Royal College of Surgeons' Applied sciences for the MRCS course. This is a 5 day course at the Royal College in London and costs £1000. I went on this course and thought it was fantastic. They explained what the format of the exam would be like, taught anatomy on cadavers in small groups and gave lectures on pathology and critical care. There were also lectures and an opportunity to practise comm skills stations. I think the highlights of the course were the lectures on critical care (very comprehensive) and the anatomy demonstrations. You also get critical care viva and a physiology viva books for free. The two problems with the course is that it didn't cover clinical examination or neuroanatomy.

I don't think you need a course to pass the exam but the royal college course really helped me prepare as I was most concerned with anatomy and critical care. Much of the stuff covered on the course came up in one way or another on the course. Hope you found this useful and if you have any experiences of the other courses please share with us.

Amel

Post MRCS Part B

So I finally sat the OSCE on thursday and it was a very passable exam although I think I screwed up 2-3 of the stations and thus may lead to my failing the exam. However, results aren't till the end of June so I can still try and be mindlessly optimistic.

Anyway, for all those considering sitting the exam this winter (which will very likely include my self), I shall endeavour to give you as many tips and advise as necessary using my experiences. Over the next few weeks, I shall blog about the format of the exam, the level of detail questioning required as well as books, courses and other revision aids.

Firstly, the exam involves 18 stations in addition to two 10 minute rest stations whereby you sit by yourself in a cubicle and one twenty minute rest station separating the exam in two and during which everyone who has sat the same stations gathers and has tea. Of the 18 stations these are divided as follows:

1) Anatomy and pathology:
1x speciality anatomy station
2x generic anatomy stations
1x generic pathology station

2) Communication skills:
2x history on speciality topics
1x generic history
1x explain something to patient/relative (also has a 9 minute prep station whereby you read the notes)
1x communicate with a colleague over the phone (also has a prep station whereby you have 9 minutes to read notes and prepare)

3)Clinical skills and patient safety:
3x speciality topics- physical exam
1x generic system- physical exam
2x procedure e.g gloving/cannulation/blood cultures/excision of lesion

4)Critical care and physiology
1x manned station with imaging/results for interpretation
1x 2 manned station with a scenario and viva on critical care
1x manned station and viva on physiology and critical care

Ok so that's me done for now but watch this space for further info in the coming days and weeks.

Amel

Question 2

2. The vertebral artery is the most important branch of the subclavian artery. It ascends through the upper six cervical foramina to enter the foramen magnum where it joins with the vertebral artery from the opposite side to form the basilar artery anterior to the pons. Which structure divides the subclavian artery into three parts?
a. Pectoralis minor
b. Teres Major
c. Scalenus Anterior
d. Scalenus medius
e. First rib

Answer to previous question

1. A 40 year old male motorbike rider is brought into the A&E department following a collision with a lorry. An urgent laparotomy reveals a severely damaged spleen, and pancreas. Major arterial supply to the pancreas is derived from the…..
a. Left gastric artery
b. Splenic artery
c. Right gastric artery
d. Hepatic artery
e. Gastroduodenal artery

Answer: Splenic artery

Major blood supply to the pancreatic body is derived from the arteria pancreatca magna (aka greater pancreatic artery). It is a branch off the splenic artery as it travels superior to the pancreas towards the splenic hilum. Prior to entering the splenic hilum, the splenic artery gives off approximately 6 pairs of short gastric arteries, and forms the left gastroepiploic artery which anastomoses with the right gastroepiploic/gastro-omental (branch of the gastroduodenal artery) to supply the greater curvature of the stomach and the omentum.

The arterial supply to the head of the pancreas is derived from superior (branch of the gastroduodenal artery), and inferior (branch of the superior mesenteric artery) pancreaticoduodenal artery.

Left gastric artery supplies the distal oesophagus, and anastomoses with the right gastric artery (branch of the common hepatic) to supply the short curvature of the stomach.

Hepatic artery arises from the common hepatic artery distal to the origin of the gastroduodenal artery and right gastric artery. Hepatic artery ascends to the left of the common bile duct and anterior to the portal vein to enter the portahepatis; where it divides into left and right to supply the respective lobes of liver. The right hepatic artery gives off the cystic artery which supplies the gall bladder.

MRCS Part A approaches

MRCS part A is about a week away, and about the time when panic spreads like wildfire amongst candidates. Our plans to get the website up and running by this month has hit major setbacks due to various work commitments, however rest assured we are working hard on it. 

As a taster; I will be posting one question a day for the next week only till the website becomes online. The questions are of course written by me, and various sources have been consulted to ensure upto date answers are given. What you will see is that the explanation i shall give to the questions are not like the ones you are used to in other questions banks, but they will have complete explanations to explain why one answer is more correct than the other. Please leave feedbacks, as this will help us improve our standards and formats. 

Anatomy

1. A 40 year old male motorbike rider is brought into the A&E department following a collision with a lorry. An urgent laparotomy reveals a severely damaged spleen, and pancreas.  Major arterial supply to the pancreas is derived from the…..

1. Left gastric artery

2. Splenic artery
3. Right gastric artery
4. Hepatic artery
5. Gastroduodenal artery

The answer will be posted tomorrow. Good luck

Romesh