CICM First Part interactive diagrams
99 interactive teaching figures mapped to 69 CICM First Part learning objectives. Each diagram opens inside the matching note in Primex.
Section b
Pharmacokinetic compartment models and drug absorption
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PK compartment models — Explain the single and multiple compartment pharmacokinetic models.
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Concentration–time curves & steady state — Describe the absorption of drugs and factors that influence this.
Drug distribution, metabolism and clearance
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B1.iii PK compartment modelsPK compartment models — Describe the distribution of drugs and factors that influence this.
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CYP450 inducer / inhibitor map — Describe the mechanisms of drug metabolism and clearance.
Effect-site concentration and context-sensitive half-time
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PK compartment models — Describe the concept of effect-site concentration
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Context-sensitive half-time + PK compartment models — Describe the concept of context sensitive half-time.
Infusion kinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring
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PK compartment models + Concentration–time curves & steady state — Explain the kinetics of an intravenous bolus dose and intermittent dosing regimen compared with an infusion.
Dose-response curves and receptor theory
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B2.iii Dose-response curvesDose-response curves — Define and explain dose-effect relationships of drugs, including dose-response curves, with reference to: graded and quantal response therapeutic index and therapeutic window intrinsic activity, potency and efficacy and …
Adverse drug reactions and interaction mechanisms
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CYP450 inducer / inhibitor map — Classify and describe mechanisms of drug interactions.
Section c
Lung compliance, elastic recoil and time constants
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Lung + chest wall compliance (Campbell diagram) + Mechanical ventilation modes — Relate compliance to the elastic properties of the respiratory system.
Airway resistance and pressure-flow dynamics
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Spirometry — V-t + flow-volume loop + Flow-volume loop pattern trainer — Describe the pressure-flow and flow-volume relationships of the lung
Lung volumes and capacities — FRC, closing capacity and spirometry
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Lung volumes & capacities + Mechanical ventilation modes — State the normal values of lung volumes and capacities.
V/Q mismatch, dead space and shunt
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V/Q distribution (West / Riley) — Describe the concepts of global and regional ventilation and perfusion and: describe the factors that affect these concepts describe the West's zones of the lung and explain the mechanisms responsible for them, explain V…
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V/Q distribution (West / Riley) + Oxygen cascade — atmosphere to mitochondrion — Explain the concept of shunt and: the physiological effects of shunt, how shunt may be measured.
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V/Q distribution (West / Riley) — Define venous admixture and describe its relationship to shunt and V/Q mismatch.
Oxygen carriage and the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve
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Oxygen cascade — atmosphere to mitochondrion + Oxygen delivery & consumption (DO₂/VO₂) — Describe the movement of oxygen from the atmosphere to the cell including detail on oxygen carriage in the blood.
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Oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve + Oxygen cascade — atmosphere to mitochondrion — Explain the oxy-haemoglobin dissociation curve and factors that may alter it.
Carbon dioxide carriage and dissociation curve
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CO₂ dissociation curve (Haldane effect) — Explain the carbon dioxide dissociation curve and factors that may alter it.
IPPV, PEEP and the physiological effects of altered oxygen and carbon dioxide
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Mechanical ventilation modes — Describe the physiological consequences of intermittent positive pressure ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure.
Blood gas and exhaled carbon dioxide measurement
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Capnography waveform interpreter — Describe the measure of exhaled carbon dioxide including: methods of measurement; qualitative and quantitative capnography limitations and potential sources of error of each methods used to minimize error and artefact in…
Section d
Cardiac and coronary circulation anatomy
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ECG — coronary territories — Describe the anatomy of the coronary circulation.
Cardiac conduction system anatomy
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D1.iii Cardiac action potentialCardiac action potential — Describe the structure of the excitatory elements of the heart including: Sino-atrial node, Atrio-ventricular node, Bundle of His, Purkinje Fibres, anatomical course of conduction.
Cardiac action potentials and excitation-contraction coupling
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Cardiac action potential — Explain the ionic basis and processes involved in the following: automaticity of the cardiac pacemaker cells excitation and relaxation of cardiac pacemaker cells excitation and relaxation of cardiac muscle cells
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Wiggers diagram — cardiac cycle (animated) + Cardiac action potential — Correlate the mechanical events of the cardiac cycle with the electrical and ionic events.
Cardiac cycle pressures and determinants of cardiac output
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Ventricular pressure-volume loop — Describe the normal pressure and flow patterns of the cardiac cycle.
Cardiac reflexes and the Frank-Starling mechanism
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D3.iv Frank-Starling curveFrank-Starling curve — Explain the Frank-Starling mechanism and its relationship to excitation-contraction coupling.
Ventricular pressure-volume loops and central venous oxygen saturation
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D3.vii PV loop — valve lesionsPV loop — valve lesions — Explain the pressure-volume relationships of the left and right ventricles and the clinical application.
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Oxygen delivery & consumption (DO₂/VO₂) — Describe the factors that affect central venous oxygen saturation.
Peripheral vascular resistance and coronary circulation regulation
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Shock & sepsis haemodynamic profiles — Describe total peripheral vascular resistance and the factors that affect it.
Peripheral circulation and shock
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Starling capillary forces — Describe the features of the capillary microcirculation, including mechanisms of fluid exchange and its regulatory controls.
Cardiovascular compensatory responses and effects of positive pressure ventilation
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Mechanical ventilation modes — Explain the physiological consequences of the following on the cardiovascular system: intermittent positive pressure ventilation, positive end-expiratory pressure, Valsalva manoeuvre.
ECG and blood pressure monitoring
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ECG mean QRS axis determination + ECG rhythm recognition trainer + ECG identify drill (real 12-leads) + ECG — coronary territories — Describe the principles and interpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) including: method of measurement including the components of the ECG, limitations and potential sources of error and artefact including the need f…
Vasopressors — noradrenaline, vasopressin, adrenaline
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Vasopressor & inotrope selector + Shock & sepsis haemodynamic profiles — Understand the pharmacology of inotropes and vasopressors.
Anti-hypertensive and anti-arrhythmic drugs
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Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system — Understand the pharmacology of anti-hypertensive drugs.
Section e
Renal anatomy and overview of kidney functions
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Nephron + diuretic sites — Outline the anatomy of the kidneys with particular focus on the anatomy of the functional unit, the nephron.
Renal blood flow and its regulation
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Renal autoregulation (RBF + GFR vs MAP) + Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system + Acute kidney injury staging — Describe renal blood flow and its regulation.
Glomerular filtration and tubular function
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Starling capillary forces + Renal autoregulation (RBF + GFR vs MAP) + Nephron + diuretic sites + Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system + Acute kidney injury staging — Describe glomerular filtration and its regulation
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Nephron + diuretic sites + Acute kidney injury staging — Describe the functions of the renal tubules and collecting ducts including the counter-current mechanism.
Measurement of renal function and diuretic pharmacology
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E2.ii Starling capillary forces + Renal autoregulation (RBF + GFR vs MAP) + Acute kidney injury stagingStarling capillary forces + Renal autoregulation (RBF + GFR vs MAP) + Acute kidney injury staging — Outline the principles of measurement of glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow.
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Nephron + diuretic sites + Acute kidney injury staging — Understand the pharmacology of diuretics.
Renal replacement fluid pharmacology
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Acute kidney injury staging — Understand the pharmacology of renal replacement fluid.
Section f
Fluid compartments and distribution
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Sodium & water disorders + IV fluid composition — Explain the composition and distribution of body fluid.
Plasma osmolality regulation and lymphatic system
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Sodium & water disorders + IV fluid composition — Define osmolality and explain the regulation of plasma osmolality.
Hyponatraemia — causes and management
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Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system + Sodium & water disorders + IV fluid composition — Describe the distribution, regulation and physiological importance of the following ions; sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphate.
Intravenous fluids — crystalloids and colloids pharmacology
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Sodium & water disorders + IV fluid composition — Understand the pharmacology of supplemental electrolyte and buffer solutions.
Section g
Acid-base disorders — physiology, pH regulation and buffer mechanisms
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Davenport acid-base diagram + Anion gap and delta ratio + ABG interpretation algorithm — Explain the physiological basis of acid-base disturbances.
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Davenport acid-base diagram + Anion gap and delta ratio + ABG interpretation algorithm — Explain the traditional (Henderson-Hasselbach) and the physico-chemical (Stewart) approach to acid-base interpretation.
Section h
Lumbar puncture anatomy and intracranial pressure determinants
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Monro-Kellie intracranial volume + ICP curve — Explain the determinants of intracranial pressure.
Cerebral autoregulation
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Cerebral autoregulation (CBF vs MAP / PaCO₂ / PaO₂) — Describe the regulation of the cerebral and spinal cord circulation.
Intracranial pressure monitoring and sedative pharmacology
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Monro-Kellie intracranial volume + ICP curve — Describe the measurement and interpretation of intracranial pressure including: methods of measurement, limitations and potential sources of error, methods used to minimise error and artefact including the need for calib…
Section i_sec
Muscle anatomy and excitation-contraction coupling
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I1.ii Cardiac action potentialCardiac action potential — Describe the physiology of skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle including excitation-contraction coupling.
Neuromuscular blocking agents in ICU
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Train-of-four monitoring — Outline the monitoring of neuromuscular blockade.
Section l
Pancreatic hormones and blood glucose control
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L1.i Glucose homeostasisGlucose homeostasis — Describe the endocrine secretions of the pancreas including their regulation and function.
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L1.ii Glucose homeostasisGlucose homeostasis — Describe the control of blood glucose including effects of fasting and response to a glucose load.
Renal and adrenal hormones and calcium control
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Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis + Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system — Outline the secretions of the kidney and adrenal gland including their regulation and function.
Adrenal axis — critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency
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Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis — Understand the pharmacology of glucocorticoids.
Hypoglycaemic drugs and glucagon
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L2.iii Glucose homeostasisGlucose homeostasis — Understand the pharmacology of hypoglycaemic drugs.
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L2.iv Glucose homeostasisGlucose homeostasis — Understand the pharmacology of glucagon.
Section n
Haemostasis, coagulation and natural anticoagulants
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N1.iv Coagulation cascadeCoagulation cascade — Describe the process and regulation of haemostasis, coagulation, and fibrinolysis.
Inflammation, immunity and host defences
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Complement cascade & hypersensitivity I–IV — Describe the factors involved in the initiation and resolution of inflammation and the immune response.
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Complement cascade & hypersensitivity I–IV — Outline innate and acquired immunity including how these systems interact in the immune response.
Anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity reactions
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Complement cascade & hypersensitivity I–IV — Explain the immunological basis of hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis in detail.
Coagulation and platelet function testing
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N3.i Coagulation cascadeCoagulation cascade — Describe the methods for assessing coagulation, including viscoelastic assays.
Anticoagulant, antiplatelet and fibrinolytic drugs
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N4.i Coagulation cascadeCoagulation cascade — Understand the pharmacology of drugs that affect coagulation including: anti-coagulants and their reversal agents where relevant, anti-platelet drugs, fibrinolytic drugs, anti-fibrinolytic drugs.
Section p
Placental transfer and neonatal circulatory transition
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CO₂ dissociation curve (Haldane effect) — Describe the transfer of substances across the placenta including the double Bohr and double Haldane effects.
Section q
Toxicology — toxicokinetic principles, antidote mechanisms and key overdose agents in ICU
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Glucose homeostasis — Understand the pharmacology of miscellaneous and specific antidotes not listed elsewhere (e.g. fomepizole/ethanol for toxic alcohols, deferoxamine for iron, dimercaprol/DMSA/DMPS for heavy metals, Prussian blue for thall…
Beta-blocker and calcium-channel-blocker overdose
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Q.vii Glucose homeostasisGlucose homeostasis — Understand the management of beta-blocker and calcium-channel-blocker overdose — escalating therapy from IV calcium and glucagon through high-dose insulin euglycaemia (1 unit/kg/h titrated up to 10 units/kg/h), vasopress…
Organophosphate poisoning — atropine and pralidoxime
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Q.viii Toxidrome discriminator gridToxidrome discriminator grid — Understand organophosphate and carbamate poisoning — SLUDGE/DUMBELS toxidrome, nicotinic features, irreversible acetylcholinesterase inhibition and the 'ageing' window, titrated doubling-dose atropine to atropinisation, …
Additional diagrams
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Lung + chest wall compliance (Campbell diagram) + Mechanical ventilation modes — Describe surfactant including its composition, production and role. x. Define and describe the work of breathing and its components.
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