Viva for Distinction

This is Part 1 of Surgical Exam series. If I've the mood/energy I'll share my other experiences especially for my clinical exams. My theory paper sucked in my opinion; there were just too many careless mistakes here and there.

Prof Azmi called me for viva for consideration for distinction. He said only if I passed the viva would I be even considered for distinction, with consideration of my other marks. So there's nothing guaranteed yet, people.

It was a roundtable viva, with Prof Azmi, Mr Junaini, Mr Khairussaleh and Mr Yan.

Prof Azmi:
TNM staging of colorectal cancer.
Differences of T2 and T3.
Commonest type of colorectal cancer.
Location of rectal tumor felt on digital rectal examination.
Divisions of the rectum.
Length of the rectum and anal canal
What is meant by the sphincter complex.
Innervation of the sphincter complex
Endoanal manometry.
Actual thing measured by manometry.

Me:
Sphincter complex - Internal, external sphincter, levator ani, puborectalis.
I was not able to answer regarding what is exactly measured during endoanal manometry (internal/external sphincter pressure), only that it's used to measure the pressure.

Mr Junaini:
What is the commonest cancer of the liver?
Commonest origin of secondary metastases to the liver.
Gross morphology of HCC.
Histology of HCC.
Tumor markers of HCC.
Difference between HCC & fibrolamellar liver ca.
Determination of tumor resectability.
Criteria for Child-Pugh.
How many points for A, B, C Child criteria.
T staging of HCC.

Me:
Did not know the answer for gross/histology of HCC. Answered that fibrolamellar tumor hass better prognosis, due to (after he gave a clue) being well differentiated. I could not answer regarding the A, B, C classification for Child-Pugh criteria, nor the T staging for HCC. I did already mention that resectability was based on TNM (especially T and M) staging and the Child-Pugh status of the patient before that.

Mr Khairussaleh:
Adjuvant therapy in breast ca.
New advances in chemotherapy.
(Prof Azmi) Other hormone being targeted by the new advances. The term for these advances in chemotherapy.

Me:
Accidentally answered regarding the neoadjuvant therapy of breast cancer.
Explained regarding the adjuvant modalities - radio/chemo/hormonal therapy. Answered regarding the criteria for all three.
Explained regarding antiangiogenesis agents (e.g. Herceptin)
(After Prof Azmi gave a hint) anti epidermal growth factor.
Targeted therapy.

Mr Yan:
Classification of surgical sutures.
Type of surgical sutures used in intestinal surgery.
Types of abdominal incisions.
Advantages of different abdominal incisions to the patient.

Me:
I didn't know the sutures used in intestinal surgery.
I answered that "horizontal incisions are better, as vertical incisions would lead to more scarring due to not following the I-don't-remember-the-name-line." (Prof Azmi) "The Langer's line".

And that was that. If you want to know how I specifically answered some of the questions I was able to answer, give me a q.

Prof Azmi:
Are you interested in surgery?

Me:
(Couldn't say no and that I wanna be an ED physician now, no?) I haven't made up my decision, Prof.