PLAB 2 - August 2003

  1. Abdmoninal Pain - History
    Very straight forward history of Acute Cholecystitis with previous episodes of intolerance to fat etc.
  2. Scrotal Examination - Patient
    A young man sent by his GP with scrotal lump which is neither a hydrocoele nor epididymitis.
    Explain to him what you are going to do.
    (Perhaps suspect malignancy and probe this topic allowing copious ventilation of feelings - a sort of breaking bad news task.)
  3. Blood Pressure - Patient
  4. Vaginal Discharge - Counselling
    Talk to the mother of a 10 year old girl.
    She only asked simple questions about development in future, swimming, cycling, TV, discos and so on.
  5. Mental State Examination - Patient
    75 year old man wandering with glimmer of reasoning.
    The actor might make a fool of you and you might not be able to complete the task.
  6. Chest Pain history in Ulcer patient - History
    Ask open-ended questions such as "Just tell me what happened". Patient gave a very clear history of stable angina with risk factors and so on.
  7. Child CPR - Manikin
  1. Rest Station
  2. Suturing - Manikin
  3. Vaginal Examination - Manikin
  4. Diabetes Type I - History
    9 year old girl, obtained from mother.
  5. Paracetamol Poisoning - Counselling
    20 year old girl did it in front of her boyfriend.
    Explain what you are going to do and DO NOT examine her mental state.
  6. Acute Abdomen - History
    Male ~65 year old with history of smoking and claudication.
    Not too straight forward but examiner seemed happy when leaking abdominal aneurysm was mentioned as a differential.
  7. Post-Colectomy Collapse – Telephone Conversation
    You are an SHO in Surgery and have a chart with vital signs.
    Persuade your consultant that the patient might be re-bleeding.
  8. Thyroid Status - Examination
  9. Taking Blood Sample - Manikin

As you might have guessed, comments in italics came from the PLABber who took the exam.


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