ACEM Primary case studies
ACEM Primary · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ACEM Primary Examination is an assessment within the Australian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) training pathway, listed under the College's Training content and referenced through its examinations pages and the FACEM Training Program Handbook. It is intended for doctors progressing toward FACEM Fellowship, and the College's own site directs trainees to its Examinations and Educational Resources pages for authoritative detail. The ACEM Primary case studies are 5 cases and about 3,678 words.
1Chest Pain in a Young Athlete: Beyond the Obvious
A 24-year-old male triathlete presents to the emergency department with sudden-onset central chest pain that began while cycling uphill 40 minutes ago. The pain is sharp, radiates to the left shoulder, and is worse on inspiration.
678 words, about 3 min2The Diabetic Foot: Deciding on Amputation Level
A 62-year-old man with a 15-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus presents with a 3-week history of a non-healing ulcer on the plantar aspect of his left foot at the first metatarsal head. He has peripheral neuropathy (loss of protective sensation to 10g monofilament) and peripheral arterial disease with an ankle-brachial index (ABI) of 0.6 on the left.
783 words, about 4 min3Pediatric Respiratory Distress: When to Escalate
A 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents with a 2-day history of runny nose, cough, and fever. Today he developed rapid breathing and chest retractions.
695 words, about 3 min4Postoperative Hypotension: Physiology and Pharmacology
A 70-year-old woman undergoes an emergency laparotomy for perforated diverticulitis. She has a history of hypertension (on ramipril and amlodipine), type 2 diabetes (on metformin), and chronic kidney disease stage 3 (baseline creatinine 150 µmol/L, eGFR 35).
801 words, about 4 min5Adrenal Crisis: A Pharmacological Emergency
A 45-year-old woman with a history of Addison's disease presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. She is on hydrocortisone 20 mg in the morning and 10 mg in the afternoon, and fludrocortisone 0.1 mg daily.
721 words, about 4 min