USMLE® Step 2 CK · chapter EM

Emergency Medicine: USMLE® Step 2 CK topics

22 topics. Each one opens a review page with its guideline basis and key clinical sections, then links the QuestionBank questions, ChartWalk flowchart, FlashCards and ImageBank plates that share its code.

1. Acetaminophen toxicity — staging, nomogram & N-acetylcysteine

   EM-TOX-0312 questions · Review Book p. 148 · 2023 US Expert Consensus Guidelines for Acetaminophen Poisoning

2. Approach to the poisoned patient — toxidrome recognition & decontamination

   EM-TOX-014 questions · Review Book p. 144 · AACT/EAPCCT GI Decontamination Position Papers (2004–2015 updates); ACMT position statements

3. Bedside procedures & device complications — lines, tubes, drains

   EM-CRIT-033 questions · Review Book p. 168 · 2021 CHEST VTE; 2013 WSACS ACS

4. Burn assessment, classification & Parkland fluid resuscitation

   EM-BURN-019 questions · Review Book p. 142 · ABA Guidelines for Burn Patient Referral; ATLS 10th Edition Burn Management

5. Chest & vascular trauma — pneumothorax, tamponade, great-vessel injury

   EM-TRAUMA-046 questions · Review Book p. 137 · 2025 ACS Advanced Trauma Life Support (11th Ed.)

6. Cholinergic/anticholinergic toxidromes & antidote pairing

   EM-TOX-0926 questions · Review Book p. 157

7. Envenomations & local anesthetic systemic toxicity

   EM-TOX-114 questions · Review Book p. 161 · 2020 ASRA Checklist for Treatment of Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity; 2011 Unified Treatment Algorithm for North American Snakebite

8. FAST exam, solid-organ injury & damage-control surgery

   EM-TRAUMA-034 questions · Review Book p. 136 · 2025 ATLS 11th Edition; AAST Organ Injury Scaling

9. Head trauma — intracranial hemorrhage, ICP & brain death

   EM-TRAUMA-0514 questions · Review Book p. 139 · Brain Trauma Foundation Severe TBI Guidelines; 2023 AAN/AAP/CNS/SCCM Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Determination Guideline

10. Heavy-metal toxicity — iron & lead poisoning

    EM-TOX-0715 questions · Review Book p. 155 · Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies / Poisoning & Drug Overdose (iron); CDC 2021 Blood Lead Reference Value

11. Hemorrhagic shock classification & massive transfusion protocol

    EM-TRAUMA-0210 questions · Review Book p. 134 · 2025 ATLS 11th Edition

12. Hyperthermic emergency syndromes — serotonin syndrome, NMS & malignant hyperthermia

    EM-TOX-1042 questions · Review Book p. 159

13. ICU supportive care — sedation, delirium, prophylaxis & goals of care

    EM-CRIT-0214 questions · Review Book p. 166 · 2018 SCCM Pain, Agitation/Sedation, Delirium, Immobility, and Sleep Disruption guideline (2025 focused update); 2024 SCCM/ASHP stress-ulcer prophylaxis

14. ICU triage, post-intubation complications & ventilator troubleshooting

    EM-CRIT-0117 questions · Review Book p. 164

15. Lithium toxicity

    EM-TOX-082 questions · Review Book p. 156 · 2015 EXTRIP Lithium Poisoning Recommendations

16. Non-accidental trauma — child & elder abuse recognition

    EM-TRAUMA-069 questions · Review Book p. 141 · 2020 AAP Clinical Report: Abusive Head Trauma in Infants and Children (Narang); 2015 AAP Evaluating Suspected Child Physical Abuse; CDC Elder Abuse Prevention

17. Opioid & sedative-hypnotic overdose — recognition & reversal

    EM-TOX-0654 questions · Review Book p. 153 · 2025 SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Prevention; 2023 FDA Narcan over-the-counter; 2022 CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline

18. Primary survey, airway management, RSI & GCS-guided triage

    EM-TRAUMA-0114 questions · Review Book p. 133 · 2025 ATLS 11th Edition

19. Salicylate toxicity — mixed acid-base disturbance & alkalinization

    EM-TOX-043 questions · Review Book p. 150 · 2015 EXTRIP Salicylate Poisoning Recommendations

20. Substance withdrawal — alcohol, benzodiazepine & opioid

    EM-TOX-1210 questions · Review Book p. 162 · 2020 ASAM Alcohol Withdrawal Management Guideline

21. Toxic alcohols — methanol & ethylene glycol

    EM-TOX-0525 questions · Review Book p. 151 · 2015 EXTRIP Methanol Recs; 2023 EXTRIP Ethylene Glycol Recs

22. Toxic gas exposure — carbon monoxide & cyanide poisoning

    EM-TOX-0213 questions · Review Book p. 146

Written and clinically reviewed by TheCodexes.com (editorial policy). Guideline citations are the primary sources each topic follows.