Guidelines & Resources by Topic

Critical Care & Resuscitation

Airway

• VORTEX – cognitive aid for the Unanticipated Difficult Airway
  • VORTEX Visual Aid
  • VORTEX Optimisation Strategies (use with visual aid)
  • source: vortexapproach.org

Breathing

• Ventilator Use
  • Ventilator Assisted PreOxygenation (VAPOX) Protocol
  • Ventilator Settings – initial settings post intubation (LOV-ED Protocol)
    • Ideal body weight calculator (based on height) to use with LOV-ED Protocol

Circulation

• Massive Transfusion Protocol (National Blood Authority)-protocol currently  under review
  • Full Guideline (2011)
  • Quick Reference Guide (2011)

Disability

• Sedation
  • Procedural Sedation
    • Approach to Procedural Sedation [Tips & Tricks]
    • Stepwise Approach to Apnoea in Procedural Sedation [Tips & Tricks]
  • Sedation of the Agitated Patient [Tips & Tricks]
• Status Epilepticus – see Neurology

Resuscitation

• Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) Guidelines
• ARC Guideline Flowcharts – Adult, Paeds & Neonatal ALS
  • Adult ALS
  • Paeds ALS
  • Neonatal ALS

Topics A-Z

Anaphylaxis

• Management – full guideline [ASCIA 2021]
• Management – 1 page summary wall chart (2018)
  • Produced by Australian Prescriber; endorsed by ACEM and ASCIA
• Patient Action Plans (ASCIA)
  • Includes advice on 1st aid and Adrenaline Autoinjectors

Analgesia – See Pain Management

Asthma – National Asthma Council Guidelines

• Acute Asthma Management
  • Adults – Flowchart
  • Paediatrics – Flowchart
• Asthma Action Plans for Patients
• Asthma Spacer Use & Care

Burns

• Burns Management Guidelines [Vic Burns]

Cardiology

• Acute Coronary Syndrome & Chest Pain
  • Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on the Evaluation and Disposition of Acute Chest Pain in the Emergency Department (American College of Cardiology 2022)
    • Includes new category of “STEMI Equivalents”
    • Australian Guidelines (2016 – National Heart Foundation and Cardiac Society of Australia & New Zealand 2016)
• Atrial Fibrillation with Tachycardia [Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital]
• Atrial Fibrillation – 2018 Australian Clinical Guidelines
• Heart Failure – 2018 Australian Clinical Guidelines
  • Acute Heart Failure section

Dental

• Dental Emergencies (Emergency Care Institute, NSW)
• Paediatrics
  • Dental Injuries (Royal Children’s Hospital)
  • Dental Trauma [Perth Children’s Hospital)]

Dermatology

• Dermnet Dermatology Resource
• A-Z of Skin (Australasian College of Dermatologists)

ECG’s

• ECG Library (LITFL)

Endocrine, Electrolytes & Metabolic

• Endocrine Guidelines from Emergency Care Institute (ECI, NSW)
  • Adrenal Emergencies
    • Adrenal Crisis (Addisonian Crisis)
    • Relative Adrenal Insufficiency
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperosmolar and Hyperglycaemic State (HHS)
  • Thyroid Storm
• Electrolytes: Suite of guidelines from the Emergency Care Institute (ECI, NSW)
  • Calcium
    • Hypercalcaemia
    • Hypocalcaemia
  • Magnesium
    • Hypermagnesaemia
    • Hypomagnesaemia
  • Phosphate
    • Hyperphosphataemia
    • Hypophosphatamia
  • Potassium
    • Hyperkalaemia
    • Hypokalaemia
  • Sodium
    • Hypernatraemia
    • Hyponatraemia

ENT

• ENT & Ophthalmology Clinical Practice Guidelines (Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital)
• Epistaxis – including COVID update (SCGH ED)
• Vertigo – see Neurology

Environmental

ECI, NSW guidelines

• Altitude Sickness
• Diving & Hyperbaric
• Drowning
• Electricity
  • Electrical injuries (man-made)
  • Lightning
• Envenomation – see Toxicology
•  Temperature
  • Heat Related Illness
  • Hypothermia

Haematology (including Blood Products)

• Blood Products & Transfusion Practice [Australian Red Cross]
  • iTransfuse App [Australian Red Cross]
• Massive Transfusion Protocol (National Blood Authority)
  • Full Guideline
  • Quick Reference Guide
• Novel Oral AntiCoagulants (NOAC) or  Direct-acting Oral  AntiCoagulants (DOAC)]
  • Emergency Care Institute NOAC Guidelines
    • Commencement
    • Dosing
    • Reversal
• Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) following COVID-19 vaccination – ED Assessment of suspected patients [ACEM 6/2021]
• Warfarin Reversal – Management of a high INR [Australian Red Cross]

Imaging

• CT Imaging, renal function and the use of IV contrast
  • “Joint Advisory Statement between The Royal College of Radiologists & Royal College Emergency Medicine regarding Emergency Computed Tomography scans and the use of Intravenous Iodinated Contrast Agents” (June, 2023)
• Diagnostic Imaging Pathways [Radiology Across Borders – originally by WA Dept of Health]

Immunisation

• Australian Immunisation Handbook

Infectious Diseases

• A-Z of Infectious Diseases [NSW Health]
• Paediatric Antimicrobial Guidelines (Perth Children’s Hospital)
• COVID-19
• Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to Blood Borne Viruses
  • ASHM National Guidelines for Occupational & Non-occupational exposure
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) & Blood Borne Viruses
  • National STI Management Guidelines (Australian Sexual Health Alliance)

Legal

• Resources regarding the Restraint & Detention of patients in emergency departments.

Medication Resources

• Drugs.com [US site]
• Neonatal
  • Neonatal Emergency Transfer Service of WA (NETS) Medication Resources
  • Neonatal Medication Protocols [King Edward Memorial Hospital]
  • NeoMedQ Neonatal Medicines [Queensland Health]
• Obstetric & Gynaecology Medication Guidelines [King Edward Memorial Hospital]

Neonatal

• See Guideline Hubs
• Medication Guidelines
  • Neonatal Emergency Transfer Service of WA (NETS) Medication Resources
  • Neonatal Medication Protocols [King Edward Memorial Hospital]
  • NeoMedQ Neonatal Medicines [Queensland Health]

Neurology

• Concussion
  • Concussion in Sport Australia – Assessment & Management (full guideline)
    • Joint statement of the Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Medical Association, Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians and Sports Medicine Australia
  • Return to Sport Protocol – Adults – Useful flowchart & handout for patients
  • Return to Sport Protocol – Paeds  – Useful flowchart & handout for patients
• Dizziness & Vertigo
  • Approach to Dizziness & Vertigo – based on the GRACE 3 Guidelines [Tips & Tricks]
  • The HINTS+ Exam Masterclass – how to understand and perform perfectly [Tips & Tricks]
  • BPPV
    • BPPV [American Academy of Otolaryngology]
    • Home Epley Manoeuvre (Patient Handout)
  • Dizziness & Vertigo Procedure Videos – See Emergency Procedures App online and scroll down to select Vertigo from left side bar to see videos and instructions for:
    • • BPPV Posterior Canal
        • Diagnosis: Dix Hallpike Test
        • Treatment: Epley Manoeuvre
      • BPPV Lateral Canal
        • Diagnosis: Supine Roll Test
        • Treatment: Gufoni Manoeuvre
      • HINTS+ Exam for diagnosis in Acute Vestibular Syndrome
• Seizures
  • Status Epilepticus – Medication Management (adults) [Tips & Tricks]
  • For Status Epilepticus (paeds) and febrile seizures see Paeds Hospital guidelines listed under Paediatrics below

Neurology

• Concussion
  • Concussion in Sport Australia – Assessment & Management (full guideline)
    • Joint statement of the Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Medical Association, Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians and Sports Medicine Australia
  • Return to Sport Protocol – Adults – Useful flowchart & handout for patients
  • Return to Sport Protocol – Paeds  – Useful flowchart & handout for patients
• Seizures
  • Status Epilepticus – Medication Management (adults) [Tips & Tricks]
  • For Status Epilepticus (paeds) and febrile seizures see Paeds Hospital guidelines listed under Paediatrics below
• Vertigo
  • BPPV
    • BPPV [American Academy of Otolaryngology]
    • Home Epley Manoeuvre (Patient Handout)
  • Vertigo Procedure Videos – See Emergency Procedures App online and select Vertigo from left side bar (at the bottom) to see videos and instructions for:
    • • BPPV Posterior Canal
        • Diagnosis: Dix Hallpike Test
        • Treatment: Epley Manoeuvre
      • BPPV Lateral Canal
        • Diagnosis: Supine Roll Test
        • Treatment: Gufoni Manoeuvre
      • HINTS+ Exam for diagnosis in Acute Vestibular Syndrome

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

• Maternity Clinical Guidelines (Queensland Health)
• King Edward Memorial  Hospital (KEMH)
  • Obstetric & Gynaecology Guidelines
  • Medication Guidelines
  • Pregnancy Care – First Trimester Complications, contains:
    • Bleeding/Pain in Early Pregnancy algorithm
    • Miscarriage & Threatened Miscarriage (Bleeding (Vaginal) with viable IUP)
    • Ectopic Pregnancy
    • Hyperemesis gravidarum management
    • [Note this particular guideline has been specified here as it is a combination of several important guidelines and is not easy to locate on the source website. For all other Obstetric guidelines please visit the source Hospital links listed above.]

Oncology

• Oncological Emergencies (eviQ Clinical Resources)
  • Neutropaenic fever (“febrile neutropenia”) – Immediate Management
  • Hypercalcaemia of Malignancy – Assessment & Management
• Opioid Conversion Calculator (eviQ)

Ophthalmology

• ENT & Ophthalmology Clinical Practice Guidelines (Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital)
• Emergency Eye Manual  (ACI)
  • Smartphone App

Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal

• Cervical Spine
  • Simplified Cervical Spine Imaging pathway [Tips & Tricks]
• Dislocation Management
  • Dislocation.com.au
• Fracture Management
  • Adult Fracture Management – Quick Reference Poster (Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital)
  • Paediatric Fracture Management
    • Quick Reference Poster (Perth Children’s Hospital)
    • Guidelines (Perth Children’s Hospital) – see Fractures under “F“
    • Guidelines (Royal Children’s Hospital)
• Hand Conditions – Emergency Management (ECI, NSW)
• Head Injury – Imaging pathways
  • Adult – Diagnostic Imaging Pathways
  • Paediatric – see Paediatrics
• Injury Management Guidelines (ECI, NSW)

Paediatrics

• Australasian Guidelines (PREDICT)
  • Bronchiolitis
  • Head injury
• Children’s Health Queensland Hospital & Health Service
• Neonatal – see “Neonatal”
• Paeds Calculators – see “Calculators” page
• Perth Children’s Hospital ED
• Royal Children’s Hospital

Pain Management

• Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence 2020 (ANZCA)
• Neuropathic Pain Management 2017 (WATAG)
• Opioids – Safe Use in the ED 2022 (NPS Medicine Wise)
  • Includes useful information regarding various alternatives to opioid analgesia

Pathology

• Royal College of Pathologists Australia (RCPA)
  • Blood Tube Chart and Recommended Order of Draw
  • Pathology Testing Manual
    • Pathology Tests
      • Provides explanations of pathology tests
    • Clinical Presentation & Diagnoses
      • Suggested pathology tests for different clinical conditions/diagnoses
  • Pathology Testing Guideline in ED 2023 (RCPA & ACEM)
    • Summary Table
    • Full Guideline

Procedures

• Emergency Procedures WebApp
  • Videos and instructions
  • Also available as a smartphone app as described here
• Procedural Sedation
  • Approach to Procedural Sedation [Tips & Tricks]
  • Stepwise Approach to Apnoea [Tips & Tricks]Preparation

Pulmonary Embolism

• Diagnostic Pathway (Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital)
• Pulmonary Embolism Advanced care pathway (Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital)

Retrieval Medicine & Pre-hospital care

• Clinical Guidelines for Transported Patients [Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA)]
  • Includes Drug Infusion Guidelines
• Clinical Practice Guidelines [Queensland Ambulance Service]

Toxicology

• Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26
• Toxicology Guidelines (Austin Health)
• Envenomatiom (ECI, NSW)
• Snake Bite Pathway – (WA Poisons)

Trauma (Major)

• Major Trauma Guidelines
  • Trauma Victoria
    • Provides a range of trauma related guidelines under the heading “Specialist Clinical Guidelines” including (but not limited to)
      • Early Trauma Care Guideline
      • Early Trauma Care Rapid Reference Poster
• Massive Transfusion Protocol – See Haematology
• For minor trauma and injuries – see Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal

Travel Medicine

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Yellow Book

Ultrasound

• Academy of Emergency Ultrasound Videos
• Ultrasound Guided Nerve Blocks – Neuroaxiom

Vascular

• Acute Limb Ischaemia (ECI, NSW)
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) (ECI, NSW)
• Aortic Dissection (ECI, NSW)