Breathlessness

Respiratory · ResP2

This topic appears in the RCEM clinical syllabus. Start with a relevant resource below, then use a case or practice activity to test what you have learned.

View this area in the official clinical syllabus

Discuss

The breathless patient: act, assess, reassess
Lesson plan · Induction · Early-career EM · Preparation about 15 min · 45-minute session · 30-minute option · Paired practice available
Discuss initial care for breathlessness, oxygen targets and the different options for a stable pneumothorax.
Learner preparation Facilitator guide
Assessing acute breathlessness
Lesson plan · Medical students · Preparation about 12 min · 45-minute session · 30-minute option · Paired practice available
Recognise respiratory compromise and compare acute heart failure with pneumothorax without relying on age or a single measurement.
Learner preparation Facilitator guide

Practise

One learner performs. One checks the key steps and gives feedback. Then swap roles. These are practice tools, not official RCEM mark schemes.

Respiratory examination
Paired practice · FRCEM
Practise examining a person with breathlessness, then summarise the findings.
Respiratory examination
Paired practice · MLA
Practise examining a person with breathlessness, then summarise the findings.

Teaching programmes

Starting in Emergency Medicine
Teaching programme
1 relevant session in this programme.
Early-career Emergency Medicine
Teaching programme
1 relevant session in this programme.
Medical Student Emergency Medicine Placement
Teaching programme
1 relevant session in this programme.

Lesson links are St Emlyn’s educational mappings. Their individual clinical-review status still applies; attending a session does not demonstrate curriculum competence.