The MRCS viva examination is divided into six separate sections. These include: critical care, physiology, pathology, principles of surgery, anatomy and operative surgery. In each viva, examiners aim to include questions from at least two or three and sometimes even four or five different topics. This generally means that there are only a few minutes to discuss each topic. It is therefore important for candidates to have a broad knowledge of many aspects of surgery in general. I think in preparing for this part of the examination one should avoid focusing on intricate details of every surgical topic and instead have a simple understanding and an overview of all the basics.

Operative surgery section of the examination tests the knowledge of clinical anatomy. Be prepared to be shown bones, instruments and dissections, and to be asked to draw surface markings. You are not expected to be able to competently perform complex surgery; however, you must understand the relevant anatomy and be aware of the indications, complications and alternatives to the common surgical procedures in each surgical discipline.

In this book we have tried to include some of the more frequently asked questions. For each procedure the clinically relevant basic science is discussed and the surgical technique is outlined. Don't forget to start every answer with comments on appropriate examination, consent and positioning of the patient pre-operatively.

In my opinion anatomy is the most important part of your basic surgical training and its knowledge is pivotal to your passing the examination and later becoming a competent surgeon in your chosen speciality. Unfortunately there are no short cuts and one must learn the entire human anatomy.