Cardio-Vascular and Respiratory Physiotherapy

?How to use these notes

1. Read a page once, slowly. Open every "Why?" button.
2. Close it and recall. Write the keywords and draw the diagrams on paper from memory, then compare.
3. Test yourself with the questions at the end of the page. Answer before you open the answer.
4. Come back on day 1, day 7 and day 21, and tick the boxes at the top of the page. Testing yourself again beats re-reading.

1Tier 1: full notes, asked almost every year

• IHD, myocardial infarction, angioplasty and CABG, with cardiac rehabReady6(a). In 18 of 20 papers; the most common long answer (16 cases).
• Burns: acute care, positioning, splinting and inhalation injuryReady6(g). In 19 of 20 papers; 12 long answers.
• Mastectomy, lymphoedema and cancer surgeryReady6(f). In 16 of 20 papers; 6 long answers.
• Peripheral arterial disease, Buerger's disease and other arterial disordersReady6(a). In 18 of 20 papers, mostly ABI and short answers.
• COPD: chronic bronchitis and emphysemaReady6(b). In 13 of 20 papers.
• Lung surgery, thoracotomy, chest drain and chest traumaReady6(e). In 12 of 20 papers.
• Bronchiectasis, including after TBReady6(c). In 11 of 20 papers.
• Amputation and stump careReady6(h). In 11 of 20 papers.
• Varicose veins, venous ulcer, DVT and thrombophlebitisReady6(a). In 11 of 20 papers.
• Asthma in adults and childrenReady6(b), 6(d). In 10 of 20 papers.

2Tier 2: asked sometimes

• Abdominal surgery: pre- and post-operative careReady6(f). In 9 of 20 papers, as short answers.
• Diabetes, diabetic foot, wound healing, pressure sores and diabetes insipidusReady6(h), 6(i)
• Obesity and metabolic syndromeReady6(i)
• Tuberculosis, thoracoplasty and post-TB lung diseaseReady6(c). Post-TB disease in 8 long cases.
• Interstitial and occupational lung diseaseReady6(b)
• Pleural effusion, pneumothorax, empyema and pleurisyReady6(c)
• HypertensionReady6(a). Rarely asked alone, but part of many cases.
• Valve disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, pacemaker and ICDReady6(a)
• Congenital heart disease: tetralogy of Fallot, ASD, VSD, PDAReady6(a)

3Tier 3: short notes, rarely or never asked on their own (2016–2026)

The papers say any syllabus topic can be asked, so these still get their own page.

• Pneumonia, lung abscess and atelectasisReady6(c). One ventilated long case (W24).
• Neonatal and paediatric respiratory conditionsReady6(d)
• Cystic fibrosisReady6(b), 6(d)
• Flail chest, scoliosis and kyphosisReady6(j)

4Technique cards

About 4 in 10 short-answer options test a technique, device, test or scale rather than a condition. Each card gives the principle, indications, contraindications, the procedure with doses, and the past questions.

ICU and ventilation

Syllabus Ch 9, including the 9(e) conditions. Since 2023 an ICU question has appeared in every paper.

• Mechanical ventilation: indications, modes, CPAP and PEEP, complications, weaningReadyIn 7 papers, including a ventilated long case (S23).
• Physiotherapy in the ICU: assessment, safety, equipment and ventilated casesReadyIn 9 papers; 4 ventilated long cases (S20, S23, S24, W24).
• Suctioning and manual hyperinflationReadyIn 7 papers; hazards of suctioning is a favourite 3-mark question.
• Therapeutic positioning, V/Q and the zones of the lungReadyIn 6 papers.
• Effects of bed rest and early mobilisationReadyIn 5 papers.
• ICU conditions: head injury, tetanus, spinal cord injury and neuromuscular diseaseReadySyllabus 9(e). Not asked on their own in 2016–2026.
• ICU conditions: pulmonary oedema, shock, organ failure, poisoning, aspiration and drowningReadySyllabus 9(e). Not asked on their own in 2016–2026.

Airway clearance

Syllabus Ch 4(a–b).

• Airway clearance techniques: overview and choiceReadyAsked as a 7-mark overview in 4 papers.
• ACBT, forced expiration, huffing and autogenic drainageReadyIn 10 papers, the most-asked technique.
• Postural drainage, percussion and vibrationReadyIn 2 papers, and part of every airway-clearance answer.
• PEP, flutter, Acapella and other airway-clearance devicesReadyIn 7 papers.

Breathing and breathlessness

Syllabus Ch 4(c–k).

• Breathing exercises, lung expansion and breathing retrainingReadyIn 7 papers, counting pursed-lip breathing.
• Neurophysiological facilitation and PNF of respirationReadyIn 3 papers, all since 2022.
• Respiratory muscle trainingReadyIn 3 papers.
• Dyspnoea, relieving positions, energy conservation and pacingReadyIn 8 papers.

Oxygen, humidification and aerosols

Syllabus Ch 4(e), 9(d).

• Oxygen therapy: devices, targets and hazardsReadyIn 4 papers.
• Humidification, nebulisers and inhalersReadyIn 7 papers.

Electrotherapy, exercise, yoga and handling skills

Syllabus Ch 4(h), 4(i), 4(l) and the practical skills list.

• Electrotherapy and therapeutic exercise in heart, lung and vascular conditionsReadyWound modalities in 4 papers.
• Applied yoga in cardio-respiratory conditionsReadySyllabus 4(l). Not asked on its own in 2016–2026.
• Handling skills and exercise equipment: stockings, bandaging, taping, splints, monitorsReadyPractical skills list; short-case demonstrations.

Exercise testing and exercise physiology

Syllabus Ch 2(b), 3.

• Exercise testing: contraindications, stop criteria, Bruce, cycle, walk and step testsReadyIn 9 papers.
• Exercise physiology and prescription: METs, energy systems, intensity, trainingReadyIn 6 papers.

Investigations and scales

Syllabus Ch 2(a), 10.

• Investigations: chest X-ray, PFT, ECG and bedside testsReady3-mark questions in most papers; four of the five practical spots.
• Scales: Borg, mMRC, NYHA, CCS and quality-of-life questionnairesReadyIn 5 papers.
• ABG interpretation and why patients desaturateReadyIn 3 papers.
• Abnormal breathing patterns and chest signsReadyIn 2 papers.

5Other syllabus chapters

Rehabilitation programmes, the revision chapter and basic life support, so that every chapter of the syllabus is covered.

Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation

Syllabus Ch 7 and 8.

• Cardiac rehabilitation: definition, indications, contraindications, phases, outcome measuresReadyPart of the most-asked long answer; 7-mark questions in 5 papers.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation: definition, indications, contraindications, components, outcome measuresReadyLong-term part of every chronic lung disease case.

Basics: anatomy, physiology and drugs

Syllabus Ch 1 (revision, applied to physiotherapy).

• Respiratory anatomy, physiology and mechanics of the thoraxReadyRevision; spirogram and oxygen curve to draw.
• Cardiac anatomy and physiology for physiotherapistsReadyRevision; coronary territories and the conduction system.
• Cardiac and respiratory drugs: what physiotherapists need to knowReadyHow each drug changes assessment and exercise.

Basic life support

Syllabus Ch 11.

• Basic life support (CPR) for physiotherapistsReadySkill and viva; 2025 CPR updates.

6Exam skills

Exam skills

Answer writing with ICF and goals (syllabus Ch 5), and the practical exam.

• Answer writing: the paper, ICF, goals and documentationReadyHow to write 3-, 7- and 15-mark answers.
• Practical exam pack: long case, short case, spots and journalReadyFollows the official 80-mark scheme.