Emergency Medicine
Browse 492 topics in emergency medicine, including presentations, diagnoses, procedures, tools, and exam links.
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Use the filters below to move between emergency clusters, core pathways, exam topics, procedures, and the most relevant clinical atlas pages.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a focal dilatation of the abdominal aorta, most often infrarenal, that matters because it can remain silent for years and then present catastrophically with rupture. This page gives a...
Absence Seizures (Paediatric)
Absence seizures are generalized onset non-motor seizures characterized by sudden, brief lapses in consciousness (typically 5–20 seconds) without loss of postural tone. They are the hallmark of Childhood Absence...
Acetabular Fracture
Acetabular fractures: classification, imaging, surgical indications, and management of hip socket fractures in high-energy trauma.
Achilles Tendon Rupture
An Achilles tendon rupture is a complete disruption of the calcaneal tendon, the strongest and largest tendon in the human body. It most commonly occurs in the "watershed zone" (2–6 cm proximal to the calcaneal...
ACL Injury
An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is a complete or partial disruption of the primary intra-articular stabilizer of the knee. The ACL's primary role is to resist anterior translation of the tibia relative to...
Acromioclavicular Joint Injury
Acromioclavicular joint injuries: mechanism, Rockwood classification, diagnosis, and evidence-based management from conservative treatment to surgical reconstruction.
Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma
The rapid IOP spike (often 50-70 mmHg) leads to ischaemic damage to the optic nerve, retina, and corneal endothelium. Treatment is a time-critical hierarchy: immediate medical reduction of IOP followed by definitive...
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 Appendicitis
Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency worldwide, with a lifetime risk of 7-8% and an incidence of app... MRCS exam preparation.
Acute Appendicitis (Paediatric)
Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in children, affecting approximately 1-8% of children presenting with acute abdominal pain to the emergency department. It has a peak incidence between 10-12...
Acute Asthma Exacerbation
In the United Kingdom, asthma affects approximately 5.4 million people, leading to roughly 75,000 emergency hospital admissions and 1,400 deaths annually. A critical finding in the National Review of Asthma Deaths...
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 Chest Syndrome
The clinical course is often unpredictable, with many cases developing 48–72 hours into an admission for a painful VOC. The pathophysiology involves a "vicious cycle" where regional hypoxia leads to red cell sickling...
Acute Cholangitis
Acute cholangitis is a life-threatening systemic infection arising from bacterial contamination of an obstructed biliary... MRCP, FRACS exam preparation.
Acute Cholecystitis
Acute cholecystitis is an acute inflammatory condition of the gallbladder, most commonly resulting from cystic duct obst... MRCS exam preparation.
Acute Compartment Syndrome
The hallmark clinical feature is pain out of proportion to the clinical findings , with pain on passive stretch of compartment muscles being the most reliable early sign. Pulselessness and paralysis are late...
Acute Conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis, primarily caused by Adenovirus , accounts for 65–90% of all infectious cases in adults. Bacterial conjunctivitis is less common in adults than in children but remains significant, often caused by...
Acute Cough in Adults
Acute cough is defined as a cough lasting less than 3 weeks . It is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical advice, representing approximately 3% of all primary care consultations. The vast majority...
Acute Dehydration - Paediatric
Acute dehydration in children represents a deficit in total body water resulting from fluid losses exceeding intake. It ... MRCPCH exam preparation.
Acute Diverticulitis
Diagnosis is primarily confirmed by CT abdomen/pelvis with intravenous contrast, which demonstrates pericolic fat stranding, bowel wall thickening, and complications such as abscess or perforation. The modified...
Acute Epiglottitis
Management is defined by a fundamental safety principle: Secure the Airway First . Any intervention that disturbs the child—including throat examination, venipuncture, or radiological investigation—can precipitate...
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 Epiglottitis in Adults
Acute epiglottitis is a life-threatening inflammatory condition affecting the epiglottis and surrounding supraglottic structures, capable of progressing rapidly to complete airway obstruction. Following widespread...
Acute Haemolytic Crisis
An acute haemolytic crisis represents rapid, pathological destruction of red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in anemia, ja... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Headache in Adults
Acute headache is one of the most common presentations in emergency departments, representing 2–4% of all visits. The primary clinical challenge is to distinguish common, benign primary headaches (migraine,...
Acute Heart Failure
Key Facts The "Flash" Phenomenon : In hypertensive AHF, symptoms arise from fluid redistribution (sympathetic-mediated vasoconstriction) rather than total body volume overload. Time is Myocardium : Every hour of delay...
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 Intermittent Porphyria (AIP)
AIP is often referred to as a "little imitator" because its symptoms—severe abdominal pain, psychiatric disturbances, and neurological deficits—mimic many common conditions, frequently leading to delayed diagnosis or...
Acute Ischaemic Stroke
Epidemiology : 85% of strokes are ischaemic; 15% haemorrhagic. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the UK ( 26,000 deaths annually) and the leading cause of adult disability. Pathophysiology : Arterial...
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 Kidney Injury (AKI)
The diagnosis is established using the KDIGO (2012) criteria , which defines AKI as a rise in serum creatinine of ≥26.5 µmol/L within 48 hours or a 1.5-fold increase from baseline. Management is focused on identifying...
Acute Kidney Injury in Children
Acute kidney injury (AKI) in children represents a sudden decline in kidney function characterised by rising serum creat... MRCPCH exam preparation.
Acute Kidney Injury Pathology
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is classified by KDIGO into Stages 1-3 based on creatinine rise and urine output. Pathophysiologically, AKI is divided into pre-renal (hypoperfusion), intrinsic (tubular, glomerular,...
Acute Limb Ischaemia
The pathophysiology involves two primary mechanisms: embolism (usually cardiac origin, e.g., atrial fibrillation) or thrombosis (in situ thrombosis of a pre-existing atherosclerotic plaque or bypass graft)....
Acute Liver Failure
Key Facts The Definition Triad : 1. Acute onset (less than 26 weeks), 2. Coagulopathy (INR ≥1.5), 3. Encephalopathy. The "Killer" Mechanism : Cerebral oedema leading to brainstem herniation is the most common cause of...
Acute Low Back Pain
However, the critical clinical challenge lies in identifying the 5-15% of patients with potentially serious underlying pathology—collectively termed "red flag" conditions—including cauda equina syndrome, malignancy,...
Acute Lower GI Bleeding
Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a medical emergency characterized by bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract distal to the ligament of Treitz, presenting as hematochezia (bright red or maroon blood...
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents myocardial cell death (necrosis) due to prolonged ischemia, typically resul... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Nausea and Vomiting in Adults
Comprehensive emergency diagnosis and management of acute nausea and vomiting in adults with evidence-based differential diagnosis and treatment protocols
Acute Oesophagitis
Acute oesophagitis represents sudden-onset inflammation of the oesophageal mucosa, most commonly secondary to gastro-oes... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Pericarditis
Acute pericarditis is defined as inflammation of the pericardial sac, the double-layered fibroserous membrane that envel... MRCP exam preparation.
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 Pharyngitis
Acute Pharyngitis is acute inflammation of the pharynx and/or tonsils, characterized by sore throat as the predominant s... FRCEM exam preparation.
Acute Poisoning - General Approach
Acute poisoning is exposure to a toxic substance causing harm through ingestion, inhalation, injection, or dermal contac... MRCEM exam preparation.
Acute Post-Operative Bleeding
Post-operative bleeding (POB) is a potentially life-threatening surgical complication characterized by excessive hemorrh... MRCS exam preparation.
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
Acute Psychotic Episode (Adult)
An acute psychotic episode is a psychiatric emergency characterized by loss of contact with reality, manifesting as hall... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Acute Respiratory Distress - Paediatric
Acute respiratory distress in children represents increased work of breathing or inadequate ventilation resulting from a... MRCPCH exam preparation.
Acute Sepsis - Paediatric
Sepsis in children is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.... MRCPCH exam preparation.
Acute Severe Asthma in Adults
Acute severe asthma is a medical emergency characterised by progressive bronchospasm, airway inflammation, and mucus hyp... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis (ASUC)
The management of ASUC is a race against time. The "Three-Day Rule" is the cornerstone of modern care: failure to demonstrate a significant biological response to high-dose intravenous corticosteroids by Day 3...
Acute Sinusitis (Adult)
Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity lasting less than 12 weeks, most commonly following a viral upper respiratory tract infection (URI). The condition represents a...
Acute Soft Tissue Infection
Acute soft tissue infections (SSTIs) represent a spectrum of bacterial infections affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissu... MRCS exam preparation.
Acute Upper Airway Obstruction
Key Facts Definition : Blockage of airway above the level of the carina (tracheal bifurcation) Incidence : 2-5% of emergency airway presentations; rare but critical Mortality : 5-10% if treated promptly; near 100% if...
Acute Urinary Retention
Acute urinary retention (AUR) is the sudden and painful inability to pass urine despite a full bladder, representing a u... MRCS exam preparation.
Acute Valvular Dysfunction
Acute valvular dysfunction represents sudden failure or severe deterioration of heart valve function, causing either reg... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Vertigo in Adults
Acute vertigo is the illusion of movement, typically rotational, resulting from asymmetric vestibular system input. It represents a diagnostic challenge in emergency and primary care settings, with critical importance...
Acute Wound Care
Critical Alerts Control hemorrhage first : Direct pressure for 5-10 minutes; tourniquet if life-threatening extremity bleeding Assess neurovascular status : Before anesthesia and after repair; document thoroughly...
Acute Wound Dehiscence
Wound dehiscence is the partial or complete separation of the layers of a surgical wound following closure. It represents a spectrum from superficial skin separation to complete fascial disruption with evisceration...
Addison's Disease (Primary Adrenal Insufficiency)
Addison's disease is primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) caused by destruction or dysfunction of the adrenal cortex, res... MRCP exam preparation.
Addisonian Crisis (Acute Adrenal Insufficiency)
Adrenal crisis presents with hypotension, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, hypoglycaemia, and often hyperpigmentation (in p... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Adrenal Crisis
Adrenal crisis is an acute, life-threatening state of cortisol deficiency that requires immediate recognition and treatm... CICM Second Part exam preparation.
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
Alcohol Dependence (Alcohol Use Disorder)
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), previously termed alcohol dependence, is a chronic, relapsing neurobiological condition characterised by compulsive alcohol seeking and use despite harmful consequences, impaired control...
Alcohol Withdrawal in ICU
Compare symptom-triggered vs fixed-schedule benzodiazepine protocols (evidence, dosing, advantages)... CICM Second Part exam preparation.
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Comprehensive evidence-based guide to alcohol withdrawal syndrome: pathophysiology, CIWA-Ar scoring, benzodiazepine protocols, delirium tremens management
Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE)
Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) is a catastrophic, unpredictable obstetric emergency characterised by the sudden onset of ... MRCOG exam preparation.
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
Anaesthesia for Trauma
Trauma is the leading cause of death in Australians aged 1-44 years, with major trauma requiring coordinated multidisciplinary care including damage control resuscitation (DCR) principles. Primary survey follows ABCDE...
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction characterised by rapidly de... MRCP exam preparation.
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
Ankle Fractures in Adults: Comprehensive Clinical Management
1.1 Summary Ankle fractures represent a disruption of the bony and/or ligamentous architecture of the tibiotalar joint, which is a highly congruent hinge joint essential for locomotion. These injuries are among the...
Ankle Sprain
The acute lateral ankle sprain is the single most common musculoskeletal injury in the active population, accounting for approximately 2 million injuries annually in the United States alone. It involves stretching or...
Anxiety Disorders in Adults: Comprehensive Clinical Management
Anxiety disorders represent the most prevalent class of mental disorders worldwide, characterized by excessive fear, anx... MRCP, MRCPsych exam preparation.
Aortic Dissection
Mechanism : Intimal tear → blood dissects into media → false lumen formation → propagation proximally/distally Incidence : 5-30 per million per year; peak age 60-70 years; male:female ratio 2-3:1 Presentation : Sudden...