AMC 2 Surgery station practice

Example Surgery stations in Vivora

• Abdominal pain that has shifted right

  You are an ED resident. Tom Brennan, 22, presents with one day of abdominal pain that has moved to the right lower abdomen.

• Severe right-upper-abdominal pain with fever

  You are an ED doctor. Sandra Mills, 47, presents with severe right-upper-abdominal pain that began after a fatty meal last night and has not settled. She feels feverish.

• Bloating, vomiting and no bowel motions

  You are an ED doctor. Gloria Esposito, 63, presents with colicky central abdominal pain, vomiting, bloating and no bowel motions or wind for two days. She has had previous abdominal surgery.

• Sudden severe testicular pain

  You are an ED resident. Jayden Cooper, 16, presents with sudden, severe pain in the left testicle that began two hours ago, with nausea.

What examiners focus on in Surgery stations

• A focused pain history (site, onset, character, radiation, severity, timing) alongside a systemic review
• Actively screening for red flags such as peritonism, obstruction or ischaemia rather than waiting to be told
• Relevant past surgical and anaesthetic history, including prior complications
• A clear plan that states urgency and escalation, not just "refer to surgery"

Common mistakes IMGs make in Surgery stations

• Jumping to imaging or investigations before finishing a focused history
• Not asking the examiner for an abdominal exam or vitals early enough
• Vague management plans that skip urgency, analgesia or safety-netting

Why practise Surgery out loud

Reading about a surgery presentation is not the same as running the station: taking a focused history, asking the examiner for findings, and giving a diagnosis and plan out loud, under time pressure. Vivora builds that fluency directly, so the real exam feels familiar rather than the first time you've said any of it aloud.