2008
Question 1.
Describe the differential effects and putative mechanisms of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and
dobutamine on peripheral vascular resistance.
(10 marks)
QUESTION 12
Record your answers on the green answer sheet provided. Write your single number answer
(corresponding to your choice of patient conditions 1-13) against the corresponding spaces
marked A, B, C etc. Write only ONE number per space.
The following measurement sets (A - E) represent intravascular/intracardiac hydrostatic pressures at
the identified locations in adult patients.
Match each set of pressures with ONE corresponding patient condition from the list a-k below.
(Note 1: each patient condition can be used once, more than once, or not at all;
2: each set of pressures may correspond to more than one patient condition,
BUT you are only required to identify ONE corresponding condition).
CVP
RVP PAP PWP LVP AO
A 5 75/5 15/8 8 120/8 120/80
B 18 70/25 70/35 10 100/10 100/60
C 2 25/2 25/10 9 90/9 90/54
D 2 20/8 20/8 8 220/8 120/80
E 5 50/5 50/25 25 220/25 120/80
[Key: CVP = central venous pressure; RVP = right ventricular pressure;
PAP = pulmonary arterial pressure; PWP = pulmonary wedge pressure;
LVP = left ventricular pressure; AO = aortic pressure]
Patient condition(s):
(1) normal patient
(2) biventricular failure
(3) severe aortic valve stenosis
(4) severe aortic valve stenosis + LV failure
(5) aortic valve incompetence
(6) mitral valve stenosis
(7) mitral valve incompetence (severe)
(8) mild mitral valve stenosis with pulmonary hypertension
(9) pulmonary valve stenosis
(10) pulmonary valve incompetence
(11) pulmonary embolus
(12) tricuspid valve stenosis
(13) tricuspid valve incompetence
(14) atrial septal defect (large)
(15) ventricular septal defect
(16) patient on beta blocker therapy (for myocardial ischemia)
(10 marks)

2007
Question 6.
In the blood microcirculation:
a) in capillaries, the mean velocity of red blood cells is the same as that of plasma.
b) white blood cells travel on average more slowly than erythrocytes.
c) according to physiology text versions of the Starling hypothesis, a significant volume of
fluid moves from interstitium to blood along the venous end of capillaries.
d) the endothelial glycocalyx is approximately 1.0 micron thick.
e) inter-endothelial cell junctions are the principal pathway for plasma albumin transendothelial
passage to the interstitium in normal capillaries.
(2.5 marks)

2006
Question 6.
In the blood microcirculation and / or lymphatic circulation:
a) blood viscosity is significantly less in microvessels than in large blood vessels
b) white blood cells are more deformable than erythrocytes
c) a significant volume of fluid is thought to move from lymph to blood within lymph
nodes
d) the endothelial glycocalyx plays no significant role in trans-endothelial fluid and
protein balance
e) chylomicra are a significant component of lymph draining via the right lymph duct
(2.5 marks)
Question 7.
Cardiac tamponade:
a) is a high cardiac output state caused by profound peripheral vasodilation
b) is a haemodynamically significant accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac
c) is caused by a left-to-right shunt due to rupture of the intraventricular septum
d) initially compromises diastolic filling of the right ventricle more than that of the left
ventricle
e) may be caused by either blood or serous fluid accumulation.
(2.5 marks)

2005
Question 8
The following measurement sets (A - E) represent intravascular/intracardiac hydroststic pressures at
the identified locations in adult patients.
Match each set of pressures with a corresponding patient condition from the list a-k below. Note
each patient condition can be used once, more than once, or not at all.
CVP RVP PAP PWP LVP AO
A 5 75/5 15/8 8 120/8 120/80
B 18 70/25 70/35 10 100/10 100/60
C 2 25/2 25/10 9 90/9 90/54
D 2 20/8 20/8 8 220/8 120/80
E 5 50/5 50/25 25 220/25 120/80
[Key: CVP = central venous pressure; RVP = right ventricular pressure;
PAP = pulmonary arterial pressure; PWP = pulmonary wedge pressure;
LVP = left ventricular pressure; AO= aortic pressure]
Patient condition(s):
(1) normal patient
(2) biventricular failure
(3) severe aortic valve stenosis
(4) severe aortic valve stenosis + LV failure
(5) aortic valve incompetence
(6) mitral valve stenosis
(7) mitral valve incompetence (severe)
(8) mild mitral valve stenosis with pulmonary hypertension
(9) pulmonary valve stenosis
(10) pulmonary valve incompetence
(11) pulmonary embolus
(12) tricuspid valve stenosis
(13) tricuspid valve incompetence
(14) patient on beta blocker therapy (for myocardial ischemia)
(10 marks)