Are You Smarter Than Your Attending?

Are You Smarter Than Your Attending? Starting July 8, 2012, you will have a chance to answer that question. The iPhone app of the same name is a contest to test your knowledge base for cardiothoracic surgery. Every week for 10 weeks, beginning July 8th, you will be asked five questions about adult and congenital cardiac surgery, general thoracic surgery, and critical care. At the end of the 10 week period the top three scoring players will be given prizes.

The app is currently available in the iTunes app store and from now until July 8th, players can answer sample questions and learn the app’s layout. In order to compete, contestants must submit their scores to Apple’s Game Center leader boards, so make sure you have a free Apple Game Center account. You can learn more about Game Center on the Apple website. Download “Are You Smarter Than Your Attending?” for free by searching the iTunes app store for the title or go to the direct link (US store) at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/are-you-smarter-than-your/id511653465?mt=8.

Related CTSNet News

5 May 2011  Edward Bender, MD, the CTSNet Apps Editor, has developed an iPad app version of some of the most popular sections of CTSNet. The iPad app presents users with a searchable Events listing and Surgeon’s page (along with Map It locations), CTSNet Career Center, and direct access to the online journals. Take a look!

CTSNet Wiki Notes Available as iPhone App

21-April-2010  CTSNet Wiki Notes is now available as an application for the iPhone. It is available free of charge on the Apple iTunes store and can be immediately accessed from the following link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ctsnetwiki/id362905204?mt=8

iPhone CTSNet Wiki Notes, like the CTSNet website, provides a resource for fundamental essential facts for board review and sources for additional information. Unlike the website, the iPhone Wiki Notes are not editable, but reflect the most recent edits effected on the main website linked at http://wiki.ctsnet.org/.

CVSurgery Risk iPhone App

22-July-2010 CVSurgery Risk is an iPhone application that provides the same functionality as the online cardiac surgery risk calculator derived from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (dataset 2.61). Once downloaded, there is no need for an Internet connection for operation. Like the online version, the app allows the user to estimate risks for seven cardiac surgical procedures: CABG, Aortic Valve Replacement with or without CABG, Mitral Valve Replacement with or without CABG, and Mitral Valve Repair with or without CABG.

The risk calculator provides the user the ability to rapidly enter data and derive a risk estimate. All variable definitions are readily available by tapping on the label for that variable, which reveals an alert box with the complete STS data point explanation. Although the user can enter all of the patient’s data into the calculator, only the age of the patient and the planned procedure are required for a valid risk calculation. Just like the online calculator, missing but required patient information defaults to specified values based on the risk algorithm.

The overriding value of CVSurgery Risk Calculator lies in its convenience of use at the bedside and its ability to quickly provide objective measures of estimated risk for patients, family members, and for referring physicians. The interface is intuitive with excellent feedback when the user completes data entry either correctly or not.

The app is available for $3.99 on the iTunes Store by searching for CVSurgery Risk or going directly to its iTunes address at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cv-surgery-risk/id349618425?mt=8.

MedCalc iPhone App

26-May-2010 MedCalc is a native iPhone application that provides a comprehensive list of medical formulas from “A-a O2 Gradient” to “Wells Score for Pulmonary Embolus.” There are close to 150 formulas, scores, and classifications easily accessible without the need for an internet connection. The app is available in four languages (English, French, German, and Spanish), with support for both US and SI units easily switchable from the keypad. The user can amass a set of “Favorites” for rapid access to often used formulas, and equations can be searched by name or keyword. Items of particular interest to the Cardiothoracic surgeon include the Gorlin equation for valve area, CHADS2 Score for risk of stroke with atrial fibrillation, EuroSCORE risk calculator, and various formulas for pulmonary function. New items are occasionally added, and the authors are willing to include suggestions from users. MedCalc has an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 1600 users of the current version.

The app is available free of charge on the iTunes Sore by searching for MedCalc or going directly to its iTunes address at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/medcalc-medical-calculator/id299470331?mt=8.