The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to emergency medicine:
Emergency medicine – medical specialty involving care for undifferentiated, unscheduled patients with acute illnesses or injuries that require immediate medical attention. While not usually providing long-term or continuing care, emergency physicians undertake acute investigations and interventions to resuscitate and stabilize patients. Emergency physicians generally practice in hospital emergency departments, pre-hospital settings via emergency medical services, and intensive care units.
Medical emergency (list)Abdominal painAltered level of consciousnessBack painChest painComaConfusionConstipationCyanosisDiarrheaDizzinessDyspneaFeverGastrointestinal bleedingHeadacheHemoptysisJaundiceNausea and vomitingPelvic painSeizureSore throatSyncopeTesticular painVaginal bleedingVertigoWeaknessListed below are conditions that constitute a possible medical emergency and may require immediate first aid, emergency room care, surgery, or care by a physician or nurse. Not all medical emergencies are life-threatening; some conditions require medical attention in order to prevent significant and long-lasting effects on physical or mental health.
Cardiac and circulatory
Acute coronary syndromeAir embolism (arterial)Aortic aneurysm (ruptured)Abdominal aortic aneurysmAortic dissectionBleedingHemorrhageHypovolemiaInternal bleedingCardiac arrestCardiac arrhythmiaVentricular fibrillationSupraventricular tachycardiaCardiac tamponadeDeep vein thrombosisHeart blockHeart failureHypertensive emergencyInfectious endocarditisMyocardial infarction (heart attack)MyocarditisPericarditisPeripheral vascular diseasePulmonary embolismValvular heart diseaseAcute urticariaAngioedemaErythema multiforme majorKasabach–Merritt syndromeAcid base disorderDiabetes mellitusRhabdomyolysisThyroid stormAdrenal crisisAccidental hypothermiaDrowningElectrical and lightning injuriesFrostbiteHeat illnessRadiation injuriesScuba diving hazards and dysbarismAppendicitisBiliary colicCholecystitisGastroenteritisSmall bowel obstructionRenal failureSexually transmitted diseasesBacterial meningitisCholeraEar infection (can occur with sudden sensorineural hearing loss)Gas gangreneLyme disease infectionMalaria infectionNecrotizing fasciitisNeutropenic sepsisRabies infectionSalmonella poisoningSepsis AllergyAnaphylaxisArthritisBursitisSystemic lupus erythematosusVasculitisAnemiaPolycythemiaAIDSCellulitisHIVNecrotizing fasciitisOsteomyelitisRabiesSepsisSeptic arthritisTuberculosisInjury (trauma) and illness
Abdominal traumaAcute epistaxisAppendicitis (leading to peritonitis)Ballistic trauma (gunshot wound)BiteBone fractureBurnCrohn's disease, severe (possible obstruction, perforation)Chest traumaChild abuseDomestic abuseFacial traumaFlail chestForeign bodyFulminant colitisHead injuryHyperthermia (heat stroke or sunstroke)Malignant hyperthermiaHypothermia or frostbiteIntestinal obstructionPancreatitisPeritonitisPoisoningFood poisoningVenomous animal bitePharmacological overdoseBotanicalPolytraumaRuptured spleenSeptic arthritisSepticaemia blood infectionSevere burn (including scalding and chemical burns)Sexual assaultSpinal disc herniationSpinal injurySpreading wound infectionSudden sensorineural hearing loss (which may become permanent unless treated promptly)Suspected spinal injuryTraumatic brain injuryWoundAcute renal failureAddisonian crisis (seen in those with Addison's disease)Dehydration, advancedDiabetic comaDiabetic ketoacidosisHypoglycemic comaElectrolyte disturbance, severe (along with dehydration, possible with severe diarrhea or vomiting, chronic laxative abuse, and severe burns)Hepatic encephalopathyHypercalcemic crisisLactic acidosisMalnutrition and starvation (as in extreme anorexia and bulimia)Pheochromocytoma crisisThyroid stormNeurological and neurosurgical
Acute spinal cord compressionCerebrovascular accident (stroke)Convulsion or seizure, no history or unusualDeliriumMeningitisNeuroleptic malignant syndromeSeizuresSerotonin syndromeStatus epilepticusStatus migrainosusStrokeSubarachnoid hemorrhageSubdural hematoma, acuteEctopic pregnancyEclampsiaPre-eclampsiaHELLP syndromeFetal distressObstetrical hemorrhagePlacental abruptionProlapsed cordPuerperal sepsisShoulder dystociaUterine rupturepulmonary hypertensionAcute angle-closure glaucomaGiant-cell arteritisOrbital perforation or penetrationRetinal detachmentCroupLimpAnxiety, acuteAttempted suicide, non-fatalExcited deliriumHomicidal ideationMood disorderPsychomotor agitationPsychotic episodeSomatoform disorderSuicidal ideationThought disorderAgonal breathingAsphyxiaAngioedemaChokingDrowningSmoke inhalationAsthma, acuteChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseEpiglottitis or severe croupPleurisyPneumoniaPneumothoraxPulmonary embolismRespiratory failureUpper respiratory infectionShock
AnaphylaxisCardiogenic shockHypovolemic shock (due to hemorrhage)Neurogenic shockObstructive shock (e.g., massive pulmonary embolism or cardiac tamponade)Septic shockOverdoseAcetaminophen overdoseAspirin overdose and other NSAIDsPoisoningUrological, andrological, and gynecologic
Acute prostatitisGynecologic hemorrhageOvarian torsionParaphimosisPriapismSexual assault (rape)Testicular torsionUrinary retentionFirst aidGolden hourTriageAcute Care of at-Risk Newborns (ACoRN)Airway managementCare of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient (CCrISP)Mechanical ventilationShockResuscitationCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)Advanced Trauma Life Support(ATLS)Basic life support (BLS)Advanced life supportAdvanced cardiac life support (ACLS)Advanced trauma life support (ATLS)ABC (medicine)PneumothoraxPericardial tamponadePediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)Environmental medicine
High altitude medicineTravel medicineMass-gathering medicineToxicology
AnticholinergicsAntidepressantsCardiovascular drugsBeta blocker toxicityCalcium channel blocker toxicity)CausticsSympathomimetics and cocaineToxic alcoholsMethanol toxicityEthylene glycol poisoningHallucinogensHeavy metalsHydrocarbonsInhaled toxinsLithiumAntipsychoticsOpioidsPesticidesPlants, mushrooms, herbal medicationsSedative hypnoticsEmergency medical servicesEmergency nursingEmergency psychiatryInternational emergency medicinePediatric emergency medicinePre-hospital emergency medicineEmergency medicine is multidiciplinary – due to the diversity of medical emergencies encountered, emergency medicine relies heavily upon the knowledge and procedures of many medical specialties, including:
Critical care medicineDisaster medicineHospice careHyperbaric medicinePain managementPalliative careSports medicineUltrasoundWilderness medicineEmergency telephone numberEmergency medical services
AmbulanceEmergency medical dispatchMedical Priority Dispatch System (US)Computer-aided call handling (US)Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (UK)Emergency medical technicianParamedicEmergency departmentPoison control centerTrauma centerEmergency physicianEmergency nurseEmergency medical technicianParamedicEmergency medical equipment
Bag valve mask (BVM)Chest tubeDefibrillation (AEDICD)Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)Intraosseous infusion (IO)Intravenous therapy (IV)Tracheal intubationLaryngeal tubeCombitubeNasopharyngeal airway (NPA)Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)Pocket maskAtropineAmiodaroneEpinephrine / AdrenalineMagnesium sulfateSodium bicarbonateNaloxoneHistory of the ambulanceHistory of emergency medical servicesCritical Care MedicineIntensive Care MedicineMilitary MedicineShockTraumaAcademic Emergency MedicineAmerican Journal of Emergency MedicineAnnals of Emergency MedicineAnnals of Intensive CareCritical Care ClinicsEmergency Medicine AustralasiaEmergency Medicine JournalIndian Journal of Critical Care MedicineInjury PreventionJournal of Critical CareJournal of Emergencies, Trauma, and ShockJournal of Emergency NursingJournal of Injury and Violence ResearchJournal of Intensive Care MedicinePediatric Critical Care MedicinePrehospital Emergency CareThe Journal of Emergency MedicineAmerican Board of Emergency MedicineAmerican College of Emergency PhysiciansAmerican Osteopathic Board of Emergency MedicineAsian Society for Emergency MedicineAustralasian College for Emergency MedicineBritish Association for Immediate CareCanadian Association of Emergency PhysiciansEmergency Nurses AssociationEuropean Resuscitation CouncilEuropean Society of Emergency MedicineInternational Federation for Emergency MedicineInternational Liaison Committee on ResuscitationResuscitation CouncilRoyal College of Emergency MedicineDominique Jean LarreyPeter Safar – Austrian physician of Czech descent, credited with pioneering cardiopulmonary resuscitation 