Cardiovascular and respiratory
- STEMI: door-to-balloon goal ≤ 90 min; tamponade = Beck's triad
- Tension pneumothorax: tracheal shift, absent breath sounds → needle decompression
- PE: sudden dyspnea, pleuritic pain, tachycardia; croup = barky cough
Neuro, GI and GU/OB
- Stroke: last known well; tPA window; Cushing's triad = rising ICP
- Appendicitis: McBurney's point; varices: airway first, then volume
- Testicular torsion and ectopic pregnancy are surgical emergencies
Medical, mental health and MSK
- Anaphylaxis: IM epinephrine first; sepsis: early fluids, cultures, antibiotics
- DKA: fluids, insulin, watch potassium; suicide risk: safe environment, 1:1
- Compartment syndrome: pain out of proportion; 5 Ps
HEENT, environment and professional
- Chemical eye burn: irrigate immediately; epiglottitis: don't examine the throat
- CO poisoning: 100% O2, SpO2 unreliable; heat stroke: rapid cooling
- Triage by ESI; preserve forensic evidence; EMTALA requires a medical screening exam
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