ACEM Fellowship
Emergency medicine preparation built around the way a shift actually feels: resuscitation first, danger recognition early, toxicology and procedures close at hand, and exam prompts mapped to Australian and New Zealand practice.
Airway, breathing, circulation, shock, sepsis, trauma, and peri-arrest patterns.
Overdose, envenomation, antidotes, and Australian formulary context.
OSCE behaviour, escalation language, and written-answer structure.
Clinical Stations
Communication, resuscitation, procedure, and handover moments presented as exam-performance frames.
Toxicology
Local toxidromes, antidotes, venom pathways, ECG clues, and disposition decisions.
Fellowship Written
Structured answer stems and clinical reasoning prompts for SAQ-style preparation.
Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) is a vision-threatening condition caused by sudden blockage of aqueous humor outflow... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Acute Behavioural Disturbance
ABD encompasses a spectrum from mild agitation to life-threatening excited delirium syndrome (ExDS). Causes include subs... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Acute Bronchiolitis - Adult
Acute bronchiolitis in adults is an inflammatory condition of the small airways (bronchioles, below 2 mm diameter) most ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Acute Bronchiolitis - Paediatric
Bronchiolitis is an acute viral infection of the lower respiratory tract, primarily affecting infants aged 2-12 months. ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Acute Epiglottitis
Acute epiglottitis is a life-threatening inflammatory condition of the epiglottis and supraglottic structures that can p... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Acute Heart Failure
Acute heart failure encompasses both new-onset heart failure and acute decompensation of chronic heart failure (ADHF), p... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Acute Ischemic Stroke - Thrombolysis
Acute ischemic stroke accounts for 87% of all strokes, with mortality of 15-30% at 30 days if untreated. Time is brain –... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Acute Ischemic Stroke - Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy
Acute ischemic stroke accounts for 87% of all strokes, with mortality of 15-30% at 30 days if untreated. Time is brain –... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Acute Kidney Injury - Emergency Management
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the emergency department requires rapid assessment to identify reversible causes (pre-renal... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Acute Pericarditis
Acute pericarditis is the most common pericardial disease, accounting for 5% of ED chest pain presentations. While most ... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Acute Psychosis
Psychosis describes a syndrome of disordered thought, perception, and reality testing. In the ED, the priority is threef... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Addisonian Crisis (Acute Adrenal Insufficiency)
Adrenal crisis presents with hypotension, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, hypoglycaemia, and often hyperpigmentation (in p... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Advanced Life Support - Adult
Adult Advanced Life Support provides the framework for managing cardiac arrest beyond basic CPR and AED use. ALS incorpo... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Airway Foreign Body - Adult
Foreign body airway obstruction is a preventable cause of asphyxial death, causing 60-100 deaths annually in Australia. ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Amphetamine Toxicity
Benzodiazepines are first-line for all amphetamine-induced agitation - titrate to effect, start high and go fast (IV ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a rapid-onset, IgE or non-IgE mediated systemic allergic reaction affecting multiple organ systems. It af... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Aortic Dissection
Aortic dissection occurs when an intimal tear allows blood to enter the medial layer of the aorta, creating a false lume... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Asthma - Adult
Acute asthma exacerbations result from acute bronchospasm, airway inflammation, and increased mucus production causing r... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Asthma - Paediatric
Acute paediatric asthma is a reversible obstructive airway disease characterised by bronchospasm, airway inflammation, a... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Asystole and Pulseless Cardiac Arrest
Asystole is complete absence of cardiac electrical activity (flat line ECG) with below 2% survival, while PEA (Pulseless... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Atrial Fibrillation - Acute Management
Acute AF in the ED demands rapid evaluation for instability (immediate cardioversion), determination of onset timing (48... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Awake Intubation
Awake intubation maintains spontaneous ventilation while establishing a definitive airway in patients with predicted dif... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Bacterial Meningitis - Adult
Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the meninges requiring immediate empirical antibiotics (Ceftriax... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Bacterial Meningitis - Paediatric
Never delay antibiotics for lumbar puncture - Draw blood cultures, give antibiotics, then perform LP if safe... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary Viva exam
Bag-Mask Ventilation
Bag-mask ventilation (BMV) provides manual positive pressure ventilation using a self-inflating bag, one-way valve, and ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Benzodiazepine Overdose
Benzodiazepine overdose causes CNS depression ranging from mild sedation to coma, typically described as "coma with stab... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Blunt Chest Trauma
Blunt chest trauma accounts for 25-50% of all trauma deaths and is the second leading cause of mortality after head inju... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Disorders
Symptomatic bradycardia (heart rate below 50 bpm) with hypotension, altered conscious level, or signs of shock is a medi... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Bradycardia in Adults
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate below 60 beats per minute (bpm) on resting electrocardiogram. While bradycardia can be a normal physiological finding in well-conditioned athletes and during sleep, pathological...
Broad-Complex Tachycardia
Broad-complex tachycardia accounts for 20-30% of ED tachyarrhythmias. Approximately 80% are VT, rising to 95% in patient... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Brown Snake Envenomation
Brown snakes (Pseudonaja species) are responsible for the majority of snakebite deaths in Australia. The venom contains ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Burns - Adult
Burns are tissue injuries caused by thermal, chemical, electrical, or radiation sources. In Australia, burns affect 25-3... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Burns - Emergency Assessment and Management
Burn Depth Classification: Superficial (epidermis, red, painful), Superficial Partial (blisters, moist, blanches, ver... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Cardiac Arrest - Adult
Cardiac arrest is the cessation of mechanical cardiac activity confirmed by the absence of a palpable central pulse, unr... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Cardiac Tamponade
Cardiac tamponade occurs when pericardial fluid accumulates faster than the parietal pericardium can stretch, causing in... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart fails to pump sufficient blood to meet metabolic demands, resulting in systemic ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Cervical Spine Trauma
NEXUS Criteria (PMID: 9971872): No midline tenderness, no focal deficit, normal alertness, no intoxication, no painfu... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Chemical Restraint and Acute Behavioural Disturbance
Acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) affects 5-10% of ED presentations and represents a medical emergency requiring rapid... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Chest Drain (Tube Thoracostomy) Insertion
Anatomical safety zone: 5th intercostal space, mid-axillary line (nipple line in males, inframammary fold in females)... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Cocaine Toxicity
Presynaptic Catecholamine Reuptake Inhibition: Blocks reuptake of noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin in synaptic ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Community-Acquired Pneumonia - Adult
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an acute lower respiratory tract infection acquired outside hospital, presenting w... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis)
Answer: Croup is acute viral laryngotracheobronchitis causing subglottic airway oedema in children aged 6 months to 3 years. Classic triad: barking seal cough, inspiratory stridor, hoarseness. Severity assessed using...
Crush Injury
Crush injury is defined as compression of extremities or other body parts for prolonged periods, leading to tissue ischa... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Damage Control Resuscitation
Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR) is a systematic approach to managing life-threatening hemorrhagic shock that prioriti... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Deliberate Self-Harm
Deliberate self-harm affects 200-250 per 100,000 Australians annually presenting to emergency departments. It encompasse... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Delirium in the Emergency Department
Delirium affects 10-25% of older ED patients and is a medical emergency with 10-26% in-hospital mortality and 25-33% mor... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Diabetic Ketoacidosis represents absolute or relative insulin deficiency combined with counter-regulatory hormone excess... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Difficult Airway Management
The difficult airway occurs in 1-6% of emergency department intubations and carries mortality of 25-30% if mismanaged, p... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Digoxin Toxicity
Digoxin toxicity occurs when serum levels exceed the therapeutic window (0.5-2.0 ng/mL), inhibiting myocardial Na+/K+ AT... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Domestic Violence and Abuse
Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a pervasive public health issue affecting 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in their lif... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Drowning Resuscitation
Drowning is a respiratory impairment process caused by submersion/immersion in liquid, leading to hypoxia and potentiall... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
ECMO/ECPR
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a modified heart-lung machine providing temporary cardiopulmonary support ... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy accounts for 1-2% of all pregnancies but remains a leading cause of maternal mortality in the first tr... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
eFAST Examination
eFAST (Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) is a rapid, bedside ultrasound examination to detect free... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Electrical Cardioversion
ALWAYS press SYNC button before cardioversion - asynchronous shock in R-on-T can precipitate ventricular fibrillation... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Electrolyte Emergencies
Electrolyte emergencies are critical disturbances in serum potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium that pose immediate ... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Electrolyte Emergencies
Electrolyte emergencies are critical disturbances in serum sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium that pose immediate ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Emergency Delivery
Emergency delivery (precipitous birth) occurs in 1-3% of births and carries 2-5 times higher neonatal mortality than pla... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Encephalitis
Empiric acyclovir (10 mg/kg IV q8h) must be started immediately upon suspected HSV encephalitis—do NOT wait for lumba... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Environmental Medicine - Australia
Australian environmental emergencies involve venomous snakes, spiders, and marine creatures unique to our region. Snake ... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Ethanol Toxicity
Ethanol toxicity ranges from mild intoxication to life-threatening withdrawal, hypoglycaemia, and Wernicke encephalopath... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Extubation Criteria
Extubation is the planned removal of an endotracheal tube after determining a patient can maintain adequate spontaneous ... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Failed Intubation Drill
Failed intubation occurs in 1-3% of emergency department intubations and can rapidly deteriorate to a CICO (Can't Intuba... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Foreign Body Airway Obstruction - Paediatric
Immediate Action : If conscious with ineffective cough → Call for help, 5 back blows, 5 chest thrusts (infants: chest thrusts only, no abdominal thrusts). If unconscious → Start CPR, check mouth for visible object...
Foreign Body Nasal - Paediatric
Nasal foreign bodies are common paediatric emergencies, peaking at 2-5 years. Immediate airway assessment is critical, e... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Funnel-Web Spider Envenomation
Funnel-web spider envenomation is a life-threatening emergency caused by delta-hexatoxin (robustoxin) from the Sydney Fu... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Toxicity
GHB toxicity presents with rapid-onset CNS depression (GCS often 3), respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypothermia, a... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
GBS is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis worldwide, affecting 1-2 people per 100,000 annually. Up to 30% ... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Headache Red Flags
Headache is a common ED presentation (2-4% of all visits), but 1-4% harbour life-threatening pathology. The SNOOP mnemon... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Health Advocacy in Emergency Medicine
One-liner : Health advocacy in emergency medicine is the systematic identification and mitigation of barriers to optimal patient care through individual, institutional, and systemic action.
Heat Illness Prevention
Acclimatization reduces heat illness risk by 40-60% and requires 7-14 days of progressive heat exposure with earlier ... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Affects 0.3-3% of pregnancies, peaks at 8-12 weeks gestation. Life-threatening complications include Wernicke encephalop... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State (HHS)
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State (HHS, formerly HONK/HHNS) is the most lethal hyperglycaemic emergency with 15-20% mort... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Hypertensive Emergency
Hypertensive emergencies affect 1-2% of all hypertensive patients and carry 5-25% mortality depending on end-organ invol... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Fellowshi
Hyperthermia Emergency (Heat Illness)
Heat stroke is defined by core temp greater than 40°C + CNS dysfunction - confusion, seizures, coma. Mortality 10-50%... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis
Examination demonstrating 'olive' mass and gastric peristaltic waves... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellowship OSCE exam preparation.
Hypoglycaemia - Emergency Management
Hypoglycaemia is a medical emergency defined by the clinical triad of low blood glucose (below 4.0 mmol/L in ED context)... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Hypothermia - Emergency Medicine
Accidental hypothermia is defined as an involuntary drop in core body temperature below 35°C (95°F). It ranges from mild... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Intracerebral Haemorrhage
Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) accounts for 10-15% of all strokes and has the highest mortality of stroke subtypes at 3... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Intraosseous (IO) Access
IO is second-line to IV (ANZCOR: IV preferred, IO if IV cannot be rapidly achieved within 2 attempts)... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary Viva exam prepara