Emergency Medicine and Acute Care
What candidates must know
Emergency care in family practice is structured by ABCDE assessment and the recognition of life-threatening conditions. Understand the primary survey, the management of anaphylaxis (adrenaline IM, airway, oxygen, IV fluids, observation), acute asthma severity grading, chest pain triage (ACS vs other causes), stroke recognition (FAST) and the time-critical window, and the approach to syncope, seizure, hypoglycaemia and sepsis (the sepsis six). Know basic life support and when to call for help. Familiarity with the contents and use of an emergency trolley, oxygen delivery devices and defibrillation is expected.
Traps in questions
- Anaphylaxis: adrenaline IM is first-line and must not be delayed for antihistamines or steroids; the dose is weight-based.
- Silent chest in asthma signals a life-threatening attack, not improvement.
- Atypical ACS: women, diabetics and the elderly may present with breathlessness, nausea or fatigue rather than classic chest pain.
- Sepsis: do not wait for a positive culture to start antibiotics in a shocked patient.
- Post-seizure: recover, then investigate the cause; do not simply discharge without a safety plan.
Rule of thumb
Treat first, diagnose second. In any emergency, stabilise airway, breathing and circulation before pursuing the underlying cause; the question's correct answer is usually the action that secures the patient.
Worked example
A patient develops urticaria, wheeze and hypotension minutes after a penicillin injection. Immediate action: intramuscular adrenaline, high-flow oxygen, IV fluids, call for help, and observe for biphasic reaction - antihistamines are adjuncts only.