Arab Board Emergency Medicine Clinical Exam study materials
Arab Board Emergency Medicine Clinical Exam study resources

Arab Board Emergency Medicine Clinical Exam study plan

Arab Board Emergency Medicine Clinical Exam · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Resuscitation, Shock and Critical Care & Trauma, Burns and Wound Management

  • Build a one-page shock classification table that separates hypovolaemic, distributive, cardiogenic and obstructive shock by haemodynamic profile and first-line action.

  • Rehearse vasopressor and inotrope selection aloud for six simulated shock scenarios, justifying the first-line agent, target mean arterial pressure and escalation trigger.

  • Walk through the trauma primary survey and state the immediate intervention triggered by each positive finding, including tension pneumothorax and massive haemorrhage.

  • Calculate fluid resuscitation for three adult burns cases using the Parkland formula, then adjust the plan for inhalation injury and electrical burns.

  • Demonstrate the failed-airway sequence, including front-of-neck access landmarks, in a manikin drill or structured mental rehearsal.

Your checkpoint

Complete a 20-minute timed written resuscitation station covering one shock case and one trauma primary survey, then self-score against a 20-point rubric and log every item scored below full marks.

Week 2

Trauma, Burns and Wound Management & Cardiovascular Emergencies

  • Interpret ten 12-lead ECGs spanning acute coronary occlusion, tachyarrhythmia and heart block, and state the reperfusion or rate-control decision for each.

  • Apply the ATLS secondary survey to three polytrauma vignettes and rank imaging and specialist referral by priority.

  • Explain massive transfusion protocol triggers, component ratios and the correction of calcium, temperature and coagulopathy.

  • Compare septic, cardiogenic and obstructive shock management in a single table covering fluids, vasoactive drugs and mechanical support.

  • Distinguish aortic dissection, pericardial tamponade and pulmonary embolism by bedside findings and immediate management.

Your checkpoint

Score at least 85% on a self-written 25-item ECG and trauma decision quiz, then rewrite every wrong answer as a one-line clinical rule.

Week 3

Cardiovascular Emergencies & Respiratory and Thoracic Emergencies

  • Differentiate STEMI, NSTEMI and unstable angina pathways, including door-to-balloon targets and fibrinolytic eligibility windows.

  • Sequence drug therapy for acute pulmonary oedema and hypertensive emergency, naming agents, doses and monitoring requirements.

  • Interpret arterial blood gases in eight respiratory failure vignettes, classifying type, compensation and need for ventilatory support.

  • Outline escalation for acute severe asthma, COPD exacerbation and tension pneumothorax, including when to intubate or needle-decompress.

  • Identify life-threatening causes of chest pain and dyspnoea that must be excluded within the first ten minutes of assessment.

Your checkpoint

Produce a two-column cardiovascular versus respiratory decision aid containing 15 if-then rules, then apply it to ten new vignettes and score at least 8 of 10 correct.

Week 4

Neurological and Neurosurgical Emergencies & Paediatric Emergencies

  • Localise stroke syndromes by vascular territory and apply thrombolysis and thrombectomy eligibility windows and contraindications.

  • Sequence status epilepticus treatment from benzodiazepine to second-line agent to anaesthetic escalation, stating doses and monitoring.

  • Grade paediatric respiratory distress using work of breathing, oxygen saturation and mental status, and state the escalation threshold.

  • Calculate weight-based doses and fluid boluses for five paediatric resuscitation scenarios, including septic shock and status epilepticus.

  • Distinguish febrile seizure, bacterial meningitis and encephalitis in children using red flags and investigation priorities.

Your checkpoint

Record a 10-minute verbal handover for two cases, one adult stroke and one paediatric septic shock, and review it against a checklist covering assessment, differential, plan and escalation.

Week 5

Toxicological, Environmental and Envenomation Emergencies & Gastrointestinal, Renal, Metabolic and Endocrine Emergencies

  • Apply a toxidrome approach to six overdose vignettes and select antidotes with accurate doses and endpoints.

  • Manage heat stroke, hypothermia and envenomation, stating cooling targets, rewarming methods and antivenom indications.

  • Interpret diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state biochemistry and write a fluid, insulin and potassium plan.

  • Recognise hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia and hypoglycaemia and state the immediate stabilising treatment for each.

  • Prioritise acute gastrointestinal bleeding and acute abdominal emergencies, including transfusion triggers and surgical referral timing.

Your checkpoint

Create a one-page antidote and electrolyte emergency card, then pass a 15-item recall test on it at 90% or higher one week later.

Week 6

Obstetric and Gynaecological Emergencies & Musculoskeletal and Orthopaedic Emergencies

  • Manage postpartum haemorrhage with a stepwise sequence of uterotonics, tranexamic acid, transfusion and surgical escalation.

  • Recognise pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome and state magnesium sulphate loading and maintenance dosing with toxicity monitoring.

  • Identify ectopic pregnancy and ovarian torsion from history, examination and bedside findings, and state the disposition.

  • Apply the Ottawa ankle and knee rules and describe compartment syndrome and open fracture management priorities.

  • Reduce a shoulder dislocation and select analgesia and sedation safely, including post-reduction assessment and immobilisation.

Your checkpoint

Complete two 10-minute OSCE-style stations, postpartum haemorrhage and shoulder reduction, scored against a checklist by a peer or by self-review at 80% or higher.

Week 7

Emergency Procedural Skills and Point-of-Care Ultrasound & Emergency Medical Services, Disaster Medicine and Departmental Administration

  • Perform and interpret extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma, basic cardiac, lung and vascular views in a structured sequence.

  • List indications, contraindications and step-by-step technique for arthrocentesis, chest drain, central line and lumbar puncture.

  • Describe triage systems, surge capacity planning and mass casualty incident command roles with named responsibilities.

  • Explain prehospital handover structure, EMS dispatch priorities and disaster triage colour coding with a worked example.

  • Draft a departmental audit or quality improvement question with measurable indicators and a data collection plan.

Your checkpoint

Submit a written log of ten simulated ultrasound studies or procedures with interpretation and reflection, plus a one-page disaster triage table.

Week 8

Resuscitation, Shock and Critical Care & Trauma, Burns and Wound Management

  • Re-test shock and trauma content under timed conditions to confirm retention of the highest-weight domains.

  • Simulate two full resuscitation stations integrating airway, breathing, circulation and team communication.

  • Convert every remaining error-log item into a flashcard and review the deck until recall is fluent.

  • Rehearse non-technical skills of closed-loop communication, role allocation and structured debriefing in each simulation.

Your checkpoint

Sit a 60-question timed mock covering all 12 domains plus two 10-minute viva stations, score at least 75%, and complete a personal error-analysis sheet with a revision plan for the final week.

Milestones

Week 4: Complete a 40-question timed mixed mock on domains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, score at least 70%, and list the three weakest topics that will drive the second half of the plan.

Week 6: Demonstrate two timed OSCE-style stations at 80% or higher on a checklist and confirm that every domain has been studied at least once.

Week 8: Achieve at least 75% on the 60-question full-syllabus mock and at least 80% on both viva stations, with a written error analysis completed.