Cardiff MRCS Course: Basic Sciences and Clinical Application for MRCS A

Basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pathology and microbiology are the principal components for developing a strong foundation in surgical training and for the understanding of its clinically applied aspects such as surgical anatomy and critical care physiology. As such, these subjects form an integral part in the MRCS A exam.

This intensive three-day course will provide the attendee with an overview of basic physiological principles, consolidate the candidate's core and applied surgical knowledge in anatomy and relevant pathology, and provide a focused revision of pertinent topics as tested in the exam. The course takes into consideration the recent changes to the MRCS A exam, with more emphasis on basic sciences – especially anatomy.

The course is structured into three distinct, but related, days. On Day 1, the emphasis will be on basic and surgically applied anatomy, and relevant system specific pathology. Day 2 will predominately cover cancer pathology, microbiology, genetics, statistics, embryology, autonomous nervous system and head & neck anatomy. Day 3 will cover trauma, general pathology, benign and malignant tumours, principles of surgery, burns and applied surgical sciences.

It is advised that delegates attend all three days of the course to get the full benefit. However, if they are particularly strong in the topics on any of the three days, then they have the option of attending the individual days of the course.

Delegates attending this course will receive full access to MRCS Part A online educational resources from www.doctorexams.co.uk for a 4 month period. This resource contains 100s of SBA and EMQ questions for practice. In addition, they will also receive full access to all presentations via a secure, online link. All these benefits and privileges are included within the course fee.

Topics covered

                                                                                                               

Day 1:

SURGICAL AND APPLIED ANATOMY (except Head and Neck), AND SYSTEM SPECIFIC PATHOLOGY

                                                                                                                               

                Brachial Plexus, Arm, Shoulder, Scapula, Back and Rotator Cuff (includes upper limb nerve injuries, palsies and shoulder pathologies)

                Cubital Fossa, Forearm, Flexor Retinaculum and Hand (includes carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve palsies, hand pathologies)

                Thoracic Wall; Mediastinum; Heart; Lungs; Oesophagus; Diaphragm

                Vascular anatomy of Thorax, Head and Neck and Thorax (includes vascular access and chest drain insertion)

                Vascular Pathologies of Neck and Thorax

                Transpyloric Plane, Anterior Abdominal Wall and Inguinal Region (includes hernia and scrotal swellings)

                Abdominal Anatomy; Hollow and Solid Organs (includes bowel pathologies, colon cancer and segmental bowel resections)

                Pelvis and Perineum

                Lumbar and Lumbosacral Plexus

                Femoral Triangle, Thigh, Popliteal Fossa; Lower Leg, Ankle and Foot (includes lower limb nerve injuries, palsies, compartment syndrome and ankle injuries)

                Revision of Day 1, and Sample Questions

Day 2:

HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY, AUTONOMOUS NERVOUS SYSTEM, MICROBIOLOGY, CANCER PATHOLOGY, GENETICS, AND STATISTICS

                                                                                                                               

                Skull base, Head, Scalp and Face; Surgical Pathologies of the Head and Face (includes parotid tumours)

                Neck, Thyroid, Larynx, Pharynx, Tongue; Surgical Pathologies of the Neck

                Head and Neck Embryology; Pharyngeal Arches

                Autonomous Nervous System

                Essential topics in Microbiology

                Tuberculosis

                Necrotising Fasciitis

                Statistics and its Surgical Application

                Cancers of the Brain and their management

                Cancers of the Oesophagus and their management

                Cancers of the Lung and their management

                Genetics and Inheritance Patterns

                Revision of Days 1 and 2, and Sample Questions

Day 3:

GENERAL PATHOLOGY, BENIGN AND MALIGNANT TUMOURS, PRINCIPLES OF SURGERY, BURNS AND APPLIED SURGICAL SCIENCES

                Management of Trauma; ATLS Principles

                Head Injury; Neurophysiology

                Basic and General Pathology

                Pre-operative Assessment

                Post-operative Complications and Management

                Fundamentals of Wound Healing; Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery

                Principles of Local Anaesthetics; Tourniquets; Diathermy

                Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery

                Sutures, Suture Materials and Needles

                Management of Burns

                Lumps and Benign Lesions; Ulcers

                Vascular Pathologies and Vascular Surgery

                Cancers of Thyroid and their management

                Cancers of the Breast and their management

                Melanoma and its Management

                Cutaneous malignancies

                Testicular Cancers and their management

                Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Endocrine and Renal Physiology

                Calcium metabolism

                Revision of Days 1, 2 and 3 and Sample Questions