ICU-itis

My ICU shifts recently have been so hectic and busy that I've not had a chance to participate in the sport of Academia at Olympic levels recently! I have started ploughing through Elfituri & Arthur's MCQ book - with a resounding 76% in the first paper - I was quite pleased at that, although I still seem to make the same mistakes as I did the last time I attempted the paper. I had also worked my way through the October 2007 SAQ paper, and will share some more ideas about this paper later in September.
Although the workload has been heavy, I've had some opportunities to put some Final's knowledge to good use. I encountered a chap on the medical ward last night whose K+ was 8.9 (and still alive) - even post-treatment, his broad complex ECG made for a sphincter-tightening journey to ICU!! The question on life-threatening hyperkalaemia (?October 2007) seemed quite appropriate all of a sudden. I also brightened up my evening with a failed intubation on ICU (unexpected Grade 4 laryngoscopy: Consultant-confirmed. They usually subtract 1 from what the trainee makes the grade!!) - thank you to Archie Brain for the provision of the LMA.

I've got some days off coming up soon, and hope to summarise a few more topics related to the exam. If anyone has any topics which they feel are relevant, or not covered well in textbooks - please share by leaving some comments, or emailing me (jrs970@yahoo.co.uk)