In the context of RCEM examinations
Learners will be expected to know about these conditions:
a) Relevant basic sciences
b) Relevant epidemiology
c) Differential diagnoses
d) Investigation and
e) Management

1. Resus

Clinical Presentations

RP1. Acute airway obstruction

RP2. Anaphylaxis/Anaphylactoid reaction

RP3. Cardiorespiratory arrest

RP4. Major Trauma

RP5. Respiratory failure

RP6. Sepsis

RP7. Shock

RP8. Unconsciousness

Condition / Issues

RC1. Choking

RC2. Stridor

RC3. Organ donation

RC4. BRUE

RC5. SUDIC Protocol

2. Allergy

Clinical Presentations

AP1. Acute allergy

AP2. Anaphylactoid reactions

AP3. Angioedema

AP4. Urticaria

Condition / Issues

AC1. Drug allergy /

severe Adverse drug reactions

3. Cardiology

Clinical Presentations

CP1. Chest pain

CP2. Breathlessness

CP3. Palpitations

CP4. Transient Loss of Consciousness

Condition / Issues

CC1. Acute Coronary Syndromes

CC2. Myocardial infarction

CC3. Arrhythmias

CC4. Cardiac failure

CC5. Cardiac tamponade

CC6. Congenital heart disease

CC7. Diseases of the arteries, including

Aortic dissection

CC8. Diseases of myocardium

CC9. Hypertensive emergencies

CC10. Pacemaker function & failure

CC11. Pericardial disease

CC12. Sudden Cardiac Death

CC13. Valvular heart disease

4. Dermatology

Clinical Presentations

DP1. Dermatological manifestations

of systemic illness

DP2. Rashes Condition / Issues

DC1. Common childhood exanthems

DC2. Cutaneous drug reactions

DC3. Eczema

DC4. Erythroderma

DC5. Infections of skin and soft tissues

DC6. Necrotising Fasciitis

DC7. Pressure ulcers

DC8. Purpuric rash including

Henoch Scholein Purpura

DC9. Stevens-Johnson syndrome

DC10. Toxic-epidermal necrolysis

DC11. Urticaria

5. Ear, Nose & Throat

Clinical Presentations

EP1. ENT foreign bodies

EP2. ENT injuries

EP3. Epistaxis

EP4. Hearing loss

EP5. Painful ear

EC5. Meniere’s disease

EP6. Sore throat

EP7. Vertigo

Condition / Issues

EC1. Croup

EC2. Epiglottitis

EC3. Glandular Fever

EC4. LMN facial nerve palsy

EC6. Nasal fractures

EC7. Otitis externa

EC8. Otitis media

EC9. Pharyngitis

EC10. Post-tonsillectomy bleed

EC11. Tonsillitis

EC12. Tracheostomy emergencies

EC13. Quinsy

EC14. Salivary gland disease

EC15. Vestibular neuritis

6. Elderly Care

Clinical Presentations

ElP1 Delirium

ElP2 Deterioration in mobility

ElP3 Falls

ElP4 Fragility fractures

ElP5 Frailty

ElP6 Hypothermia

ElP7 Incontinence

ElP8 Increasing care needs

ElP9 Memory loss

ElP10 Unsteadiness /

balance disturbance

Condition / Issues

ElC1 Comprehensive Geriatric assessment

ElC2.Acute confusion

EIC3 Ceiling of care and End of life care

ElC4 Dementia & cognitive impairment

EIC5 Fragility fractures

ElC6 Mobility

ElP7 Osteoporosis

EIC8 Pharmacological considerations

in the older patient

7. Endocrinology

Clinical Presentations

EnP1 Addissonian crisis

EnP2 Hyperglycaemia

EnP3 Hypoglycaemia

Condition / Issues

EnC1 Adrenal disorders

EnC2 Diabetic ketoacidosis

EnC3 Diabetes mellitus & complications

including diabetic foot

EnC4 Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state

EnC5 Pituitary disorders

EnC6 Thyroid emergencies

8. Environmental Emergencies

Condition / Issues

EnvC1 Heat stroke and heat exhaustion

EnvC2 Drug-related hyperthermias

EnvC3 Hypothermia and frostbite

EnvC4 Decompression sickness

EnvC5 Near drowning

EnvC6 Radiation exposure and safety

EnvC7 Industrial chemical incidents

EnvC8 Bites and envenomations typical for the UK

EnvC9 High altitude emergencies

EnvC10 Acid attacks

9. Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Clinical Presentations

GP1 Abdominal and loin pain

GP2 Abdominal swelling or mass

GP3 Ascites GP4 Constipation

GP5 Diarrhoea

GP6 Haematemesis and melaena

GP7 Jaundice

GP8 Anal pain and rectal bleeding

GP9 Nausea and vomiting

GP10 Dysphagia

Condition / Issues

GC1 Alcohol-related liver disease

including withdrawal

GC2 Decompensated cirrhosis

GC3 Dehydration in children

GC4 Functional bowel disorders

GC5 Gastrointestinal infections

GC6 Hepatitis

GP7 Inflammatory bowel disease

GP8 Peptic ulcer

GC9 Pyloric stenosis

10. Hematology

Clinical Presentations

HP1 Anaemia

HP2 Bruising and spontaneous bleeding

HP3 Massive haemorrhage

Condition / Issues

HC1 Anticoagulant reversal

HC2 DIC

HC3 Haemophilia

HC4 ITP

HC5 Leukaemia

HC6 Lymphoma

HC7 Marrow failure

HC8 Sickle cell disease/crisis

HC9 Transfusion reactions

11. Infectious Diseases

Clinical Presentations

IP1 Fever

IP2 Pyrexia in travellers

IP3 Sepsis

IP4 Needlestick injury/

exposure to blood-borne viruses

Condition / Issues

IC1 Influenza

IC2 Infection in immunocompromised patients

IC3 Infestations

IC4 Kawasaki Disease

IC5 Notifiable diseases

IC6 Pyrexia of unknown origin – different age groups

12. Maxillofacial & Dental

Clinical Presentations

MaP1 Dental pain

MaP2 Facial swelling

MaP3 Avulsed or fractured teeth

MaP4 Facial bone injury

Condition / Issues

MaC1 Dental abcess

MaC2 Facial wounds

MaC3 Post extraction complications

MaC4 TMJ dislocation

13. Mental Health

Clinical Presentations

MHP1 Aggressive or disturbed behaviour

MHP2 Anxiety / Panic

MHP3 Physical symptoms

unexplained by organic disease

MHP4 Self-harm

MHP5 Refusal of treatment

Condition / Issues

MHC1 Alcohol and substance misuse

MHC2 Depression

MHC3 Eating disorders

MHC4 Personality disorders

MHC5 Acute psychosis including

Bipolar,

Schizophrenia

MHC6 Somatic symptom disorder

MHC7 Stress disorders

MHC8 Suicide

14. Musculoskeletal (non-trauma)

Clinical Presentations

MuP1 Acute back pain

MuP2 Limb pain and swelling

MuP3 Neck pain

MuP4 Joint swelling

MuP5 Acute hot swollen joint

Condition / Issues

MuC1 Cauda equina syndrome

MuC2 Crystal related arthropathies

MuC3 Septic arthritis

MuC4 Limb pain and swelling

MuC5 Spinal pain and radiculopathy

MuC6 Risks of rheumatological

disease-modifying drugs

MuC7 Spinal infections

MuC8 Torticollis

MuC9 Limping child

MuC10 Osteochondritis

15. Neonatal Emergencies

Condition / Issues

NeoC1 Delivery and resuscitation of the newborn

NeoC2 Neonatal sepsis

NeoC3 Cyanotic /

non-cyanotic congenital heart disease

NeoC4 Jaundice

NeoC5 Feeding problems

16. Nephrology

Clinical Presentations

NepP1 Electrolyte disorders

NepP2 Oliguria

Condition / Issues

NepC1 Acute kidney injury

NepC2 Drugs and the kidney

NepC3 Electrolyte disorders

NepC4 Fluid balance disorders

NepC5 Renal replacement therapy

17. Neurology

Clinical Presentations

NeuP1 Acute confusion

NeuP2 Headache

NeuP3 Seizures / status epilepticus

NeuP4 Speech disturbance

NeuP5 Hemiparesis / hemiplegia

NeuP6 Gait abnormality

NeuP7 Visual disturbance

NeuP8 Weakness/paralysis

NeuP9 Dizziness and vertigo

Condition / Issues

NeuC1 Botulism

NeuC2 Cerebral sinus thrombosis

NeuC3 Febrile convulsion

NeuC4 Functional illness

NeuC5 Gullian-Barre

NeuC6 Meningitis and encephalitis

NeuC7 Multiple sclerosis

NeuC8 Myasthenia gravis

NeuC9 Parkinson’s disease and

other movement disorders

NeuC10 Peripheral neuropathy (acute)

NeuC11 Subarachnoid haemorrhage

NeuC12 Stroke and TIA

NeuC13 Tetanus

NeuC14 Tumours involving the brain and

spinal cord

NeuC15 VP shunts

18. Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Clinical Presentations

ObP1 Pelvic pain

ObP2 Vaginal bleeding

ObP3 Pregnancy

ObP4 Genital injury / assault

ObP5 Vaginal discharge

ObP6 Foreign bodies

ObP7 Patient in labour

Condition / Issues

ObC1 Ante-partum haemorrhage

ObC2 Bleeding in early pregnancy

ObC3 Exposure to infections during pregnancy

eg. chickpox

ObC4 Ectopic pregnancy

ObC5 Genital injury / Female genital mutilation

ObC6 HELLP

ObC7 Heavy menstrual bleeding

ObC8 Hyperemesis gravidarum

ObC9 Maternal collapse

ObC10 Post partum haemorrhage

ObC11 Pre-eclampsia / eclampsia

ObC12 Pelvic infection

ObC13 Post menopausal bleeding

ObC14 Prescribing in pregnancy

ObC15 Rhesus D prophylaxis

ObC16 Sepsis in & following pregnancy

ObC17 Thrombosis during and following pregnancy

ObC18 Trauma in pregnancy

19. Oncological Emergencies

Clinical Presentations

OncP1. Presentations of undiagnosed cancer

that may be seen in the ED

(including weight loss, dysphagia, pain etc)

Condition / Issues

OncC1. Complications related to

local tumour progression

e.g. acute cord compression,

upper airway obstruction,

pericardial and pleural effusions,

SVC compression syndrome,

raised intracranial pressure

OncC2. Complications relating to cancer treatment including: neutropenic sepsis,

anaemia and thrombocytopenia and

immunotherapy

OncC3. Biochemical complications of malignancy: hypercalcaemia,

SIADH,

adrenocortical insufficiency

20. Opthalmology

Clinical Presentations

OptP1 Diplopia

OptP2 Eye trauma including foreign bodies

OptP3 Painful eye

OptP4 Red eye

OptP5 Sudden visual loss

Condition / Issues

OptC1 Acute glaucoma

OptC2 Cranial nerve palsy

OptC3 Orbital and periorbital cellulitis

OptC4 Opthalmia neonatorum

OptC5 Inflammatory eye disease

OptC6 Temporal arteritis

21. Pain and sedation

Condition / Issues

PC1. Analgesics

PC2. Non-pharmacological methods

of pain management

PC3. Pain assessment

PC4. Sedation

22. Palliative and end of life care

Clinical Presentations

PalP1 Advanced malignancy

Condition / Issues

PalC1 Advanced care planning

PalC2 Anticipatory medications

PalC3 End stage organ failure

PalC4 Pain management

PalC5 Physical symptoms other than pain

PalC6 Psychosocial concerns including

spiritual care and care of the family

PalC7 The dying patient

23. Pharmacology and poisoning

Clinical Presentations

PhP1 Medication side effect / interactions

PhP2 Overdose

Condition / Issues

PhC1 Overdose of prescription and

non-prescription medication including

legal and non-legal drugs

PhC2 Poisoning :

Carbon monoxide,

Cyanide,

Organo-phosphate

PhC3 Toxidromes

PhC4 Use of antidotes

PC3. Pain assessment

PC4. Sedation

24. Respiratory

Clinical Presentations

RP1 Chest pain

RP2 Breathlessness

RP3 Haemoptysis

RP4 Cough

Condition / Issues

RC1 Asthma

RC2 Bronchiolitis

RC3 COPD

RC4 Foreign body inhalation

RC5 Pertussis

RC6 Pleural effusion

RC7 Pneumonia

RC8 Pneumothorax

RC9 Pleural aspiration

RC10 Pulmonary embolus

RC11 Viral-induced wheeze in children

25. Sexual Health

Clinical Presentations

SeP1 Genital discharge

SeP2 Genital lesions

Sep3 Emergency contraception

SeP4 Post-exposure prophylaxis

Condition / Issues

SeC1 HIV infection

SeC2 Sexual assault

SeC3 Sexually transmitted infection

26. Surgical Emergencies

Clinical Presentations

SuP1 Abdominal pain

SuP2 Abdominal swelling/ mass

SuP3 Constipation

SuP4 Diarrhoea

SuP5 GI bleeding

SuP6 Anal / rectal pain

SuP7 Nausea/ vomiting

Condition / Issues

SuC1 Ano-rectal absesses

SuC2 Appendicitis

SuC3 Biliary colic

SuC4 Bowel obstruction

SuC5 Breast abscess

SuC6 Cholangitis

SuC7 Cholecystitis

SuC8 Diverticular disease

SuC9 Haemorrhoid disease

SuC10 Hernias

SuC11 Intussusception

SuC12 Ischaemic bowel

SuC13 Lower gastrointestinal and

rectal bleeding

SuC14 Pancreatitis

SuC15 Viscus perforation

SuC16 Volvulus

27. Trauma

Clinical Presentations

TP1 Head injury

TP2 Spinal injury

TP3 Chest and lung injury

TP4 Major vascular injury

TP5 Abdominal injury

TP6 Pelvic injury

TP7 Limb and joint injury

Tp8 Burns

TP9 Inhalational injury

TP10 Wounds

Condition / Issues

TC1 Compartment syndrome

TC2 Limb and joint injury including

bony, musculo-tendinous and complications

TC3 Electrical burns

TC4 Salter-Harris classification

TC5 Infection –

paronychia,

pulp space,

flexor sheath nail bed,

amputations etc

TC6 Human bites

TC7 Injury to bladder, urethra, testes or penis

28. Urology

Clinical Presentations

UP1 Dysuria

UP2 Injury to bladder, urethra,

testes or penis

UP3 Urinary retention

UP4 Testicular pain / swelling

UP5 Loin pain

UP6 Haematuria

Condition / Issues

UC1 Epididymo-orchitis

UC2 Renal stone disease

UC3 Phimosis / Paraphimosis

UC4 Priapism

UC5 Testicular torsion

UC6 Prostatitis

UC7 YTI / Pyelonephritis

29. Vascular

Condition / Issues

VC1 Acute limb ischaemia

VC2 Aortic aneurysmal disease

VC3 DVT

30. Other clinical presentations

Condition / Issues

XC1 Major Incident Management

XC2 PHEM

XC3 Safeguarding in adults

31. Safeguarding & Psycho-social emergencies in children

Clinical Presentations

SaP1 Self-harm in children and adolescents

SaP2 Concerning presentation

Condition / Issues

SaC1 Conditions presenting as a symptom of

NAI or psychological distress,

e.g. deliberate self-harm,

aggression or risk-taking behaviour,

recurrent abdominal pain,

headaches or faints,

recurrent attendances in young children.

SaC2 Roles of other systems

in protecting children,

e.g. Social Services, the Child Protection Plan,

Police Child Protection and Domestic Violence Units, SureStart, Childline, Health Visitors, School Nurses

SaC3 Mental illness in childhood including depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar and schizophrenia

SaC4 Sexual abuse

__________________

Paediatric specific presentations & conditions

RC4. BRUE

RC5. SUDIC Protocol

DC1. Common childhood exanthems

DC8. Henoch Scholein Purpura

EC1. Croup

EC10. Post-tonsillectomy bleed

GC3 Dehydration in children

GC9 Pyloric stenosis

IC4 Kawasaki Disease

MuC8 Torticollis

MuC9 Limping child

MuC10 Osteochondritis

15. (Neo) Neonatal Emergencies

NeuC3 Febrile convulsion

OptC4 Opthalmia neonatorum

RC2 Bronchiolitis

RC11 Viral-induced wheeze in children

SuC11. Intussusception

31. (Sa) Safeguarding &

Psycho-social emergencies in children