Arab Board EM Part 1 key terms

A cardiac arrest rhythm in which organised electrical activity is present on the monitor but no palpable pulse or effective mechanical contraction exists. It is treated with high-quality CPR, epinephrine, and a search for reversible causes such as hypovolaemia, hypoxia, or tamponade.

A cardiac arrest rhythm amenable to defibrillation, namely ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Immediate unsynchronised defibrillation plus CPR improves survival compared with any other intervention in these rhythms.

The restoration of a sustained palpable pulse and effective perfusion after cardiac arrest, usually defined as lasting more than 20 minutes. It marks the transition from resuscitation to post-arrest care, including targeted temperature management and haemodynamic support.

A constellation of brain injury, myocardial dysfunction, systemic ischaemia-reperfusion injury, and the unresolved precipitating pathology that follows resuscitation. Management focuses on oxygenation and ventilation targets, blood pressure support, temperature control, and treating the original cause.

Deliberate control of core temperature, typically avoiding fever and sometimes maintaining 32-36 degrees Celsius, in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. It aims to limit secondary neurological injury and is combined with sedation, shivering control, and delayed prognostication.

A spectrum of myocardial ischaemia including ST-elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and unstable angina. Diagnosis rests on symptoms, serial troponin, and ECG, with urgent reperfusion indicated for ST elevation.

Acute myocardial infarction with diagnostic ST elevation on ECG, reflecting transmural ischaemia and usually complete coronary occlusion. It requires emergent reperfusion by primary percutaneous coronary intervention or fibrinolysis when timely intervention is unavailable.

A cardiac biomarker released with myocardial injury, measured with assays sensitive enough to detect small rises. Serial values with a delta are used in accelerated diagnostic pathways; elevation indicates injury but is not specific to acute coronary syndrome.

A tear in the aortic intima allowing blood to track within the media, causing severe tearing chest or back pain and pulse deficits. Management includes pain and heart rate control, urgent imaging, and surgical repair for proximal involvement.

Progressive accumulation of air in the pleural space under pressure, causing mediastinal shift, impaired venous return, and obstructive shock. It is a clinical diagnosis requiring immediate needle decompression followed by tube thoracostomy, without waiting for imaging.

Emergency insertion of a large-bore needle or catheter into the pleural space to relieve tension pneumothorax. It is performed in the mid-axillary line at the fifth intercostal space or the second intercostal space anteriorly, followed by definitive tube thoracostomy.

Acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure with bilateral opacities and reduced lung compliance from inflammatory alveolar-capillary injury, not fully explained by cardiac failure. Management is lung-protective ventilation, conservative fluids, and treatment of the underlying cause.

Respiratory support delivered without an artificial airway, using bilevel positive pressure or continuous positive airway pressure. It reduces intubation and mortality in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema.

A coordinated technique of preoxygenation, induction of anaesthesia, and neuromuscular blockade to secure the airway rapidly while minimising aspiration risk. It includes preparation, positioning, suction, rescue planning, and confirmation of tube placement.

The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in exhaled gas at the end of expiration, measured by capnography. It confirms tracheal tube placement, monitors ventilation, and during cardiac arrest low values suggest poor compression quality or poor prognosis.

Ischaemic stroke caused by occlusion of a major intracranial artery, typically presenting with severe deficits such as hemiparesis, gaze deviation, or aphasia. It may be treated with mechanical thrombectomy in addition to thrombolysis within selected time windows.

Intravenous administration of a fibrinolytic agent such as alteplase or tenecteplase to dissolve an acute thrombus. In ischaemic stroke it is given within a defined window after excluding haemorrhage, and it is also used in massive pulmonary embolism.

Any disturbance of arousal, attention, or cognition ranging from confusion to coma. Emergency evaluation is structured around airway and glucose, followed by a search for toxic, metabolic, neurological, and infectious causes.

A scored assessment of eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, giving a total from 3 to 15. It standardises the description of consciousness, guides airway decisions, and is used in trauma and stroke pathways.

An acute fluctuating disturbance of attention and awareness with altered cognition, usually caused by an underlying medical illness, drugs, or withdrawal. It is managed by treating the cause, reorientation, and cautious use of antipsychotics for severe agitation.

Bleeding arising proximal to the ligament of Treitz, presenting as haematemesis or melena. Resuscitation, risk scoring, acid suppression, and urgent endoscopy are central, with variceal bleeding requiring vasoactive drugs and antibiotics.

An abrupt decline in glomerular filtration over hours to days, reflected by rising creatinine or falling urine output. It is classified by cause into prerenal, intrinsic renal, and postrenal categories, and management emphasises volume assessment, stopping nephrotoxins, and relieving obstruction.

Serum potassium elevated enough to threaten cardiac conduction, commonly above 6.5 mmol/L or with ECG changes. Emergency treatment combines intravenous calcium for membrane stabilisation with insulin-dextrose, beta-agonists, and potassium removal.

A vasopressin analogue used in acute variceal haemorrhage and hepatorenal syndrome to splanchnic vasoconstriction and reduce portal pressure. It is given with prophylactic antibiotics and requires monitoring for ischaemic and hyponatraemic adverse effects.

A strategy for major trauma combining permissive hypotension, haemostatic resuscitation with balanced blood products, and rapid control of bleeding before definitive repair. It aims to prevent the lethal triad of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy.

A pre-defined system for delivering large volumes of blood products rapidly in haemorrhagic shock, typically with balanced ratios of red cells, plasma, and platelets. It includes antifibrinolytics, calcium replacement, and frequent coagulation monitoring.

A rapid bedside ultrasound examination of pericardial, peritoneal, and pleural spaces for free fluid after trauma. It guides early operative decisions, is repeated when the clinical picture changes, and is less reliable for retroperitoneal or hollow viscus injury.

Raised pressure within a closed fascial compartment causing ischaemic pain, often out of proportion to findings, with pain on passive stretch as an early sign. Pulselessness and paralysis are late; urgent fasciotomy is required once the diagnosis is confirmed.

A recognisable pattern of clinical features that suggests a class of poisoning, such as anticholinergic, cholinergic, sympathomimetic, opioid, or sedative-hypnotic. It narrows the differential and guides empirical antidote use and supportive care.

A competitive opioid receptor antagonist that reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression and coma. It is titrated to restore adequate breathing rather than full wakefulness, and repeated dosing or infusion may be needed for long-acting opioids.

A potentially fatal toxidrome from serotonergic excess causing agitation, clonus, hyperreflexia, and hyperthermia. Management is stopping the agent, cooling, benzodiazepines, and cyproheptadine in severe cases.

Tissue hypoxia from carboxyhaemoglobin binding, presenting with headache, dizziness, and syncope that may mimic other conditions. Treatment is high-flow oxygen; hyperbaric oxygen is considered for severe poisoning, neurological features, or pregnancy.

A viral lower respiratory infection of infants, most often respiratory syncytial virus, causing wheeze, crackles, and respiratory distress. Management is supportive with hydration and oxygen; routine bronchodilators, steroids, and antibiotics are not recommended.

Acute viral laryngotracheitis in young children producing a barking cough, hoarse voice, and inspiratory stridor. A single dose of dexamethasone is standard, with nebulised epinephrine for moderate to severe obstruction.

Implantation of a pregnancy outside the uterine cavity, most often in the fallopian tube, which can rupture and cause life-threatening haemorrhage. Any woman of reproductive age with abdominal pain or syncope should have a pregnancy test and pelvic ultrasound.

A pregnancy-specific disorder of new hypertension after 20 weeks with proteinuria or maternal organ dysfunction. Severe features require magnesium sulfate for seizure prevention, antihypertensive treatment, and timely delivery.

A drug used to prevent and treat eclamptic seizures and to provide fetal neuroprotection in preterm delivery. It requires monitoring of reflexes, respiratory rate, and urine output, with calcium gluconate as the antidote for toxicity.

A hyperglycaemic emergency with ketonaemia, metabolic acidosis, and total body fluid and electrolyte depletion, often precipitated by infection or non-adherence. Treatment is isotonic fluids, intravenous insulin, potassium replacement, and correction of the precipitant.

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, identified clinically by a rise in the sequential organ failure score. Early recognition, cultures, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and fluid resuscitation improve outcomes.

Sepsis with persisting hypotension requiring vasopressors to maintain mean arterial pressure and with elevated lactate despite adequate fluid resuscitation. It carries high mortality and requires intensive care, source control, and vasopressor support.

Clinician-performed cardiac ultrasound at the bedside to assess contractility, pericardial effusion, ventricular filling, and right heart strain. It rapidly informs the cause of shock, guides fluid and vasopressor decisions, and helps diagnose tamponade.

Needle aspiration of pericardial fluid, usually under ultrasound guidance, to relieve cardiac tamponade. It can be diagnostic and therapeutic, and the pericardial fluid is sent for analysis while the patient is monitored for recurrence.

A validated tool combining history, examination, and test findings to estimate the probability of a condition and guide testing or discharge. It should be applied only to populations similar to the derivation cohort and used alongside clinical judgement.

The number of patients who must receive an intervention for one additional patient to benefit, calculated as the reciprocal of the absolute risk reduction. It translates trial results into practical terms but depends on baseline risk in the population studied.