Book excerpt: An understanding of how to manage patients in the critical care environment is a key objective of surgical training, and the MRCS viva voce examination remains an area of much anxiety for many candidates. Surgical Critical Care Vivas aims to dispel at least some of this anxiety by providing some of the most common questions that are likely to be encountered, along with detailed model answers, which help the reader to consolidate their knowledge and understand key concepts. The answers themselves are structured so that the main points needed to address the question fully are clearly summarised and easily understood. Packed with useful information presented in an accessible A-Z format, this useful book allows the busy candidate to work through any number of questions, alone or as part of a group, to practice their oral examination technique, focus on areas of weakness and most effectively plan their revision. Essential reading for MRCS/AFRCS(Ed) viva examination candidates. Also useful as an aide memoire to the junior surgeon and anaesthetist and as a quick reference and self-assessment tool for other ICU-based personnel such as emergency nurses or operating department assistants.