The Gastroenterology and Hepatology section of the RCEM syllabus is a cornerstone of emergency medicine, reflecting the wide range of abdominal and hepatic presentations seen in the ED. From upper and lower GI bleeding to acute liver failure, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease flares, these conditions demand rapid recognition, resuscitation, and safe referral.

In the MRCEM SBA exam, questions often test your ability to interpret clinical patterns, blood results, and imaging, while applying evidence-based guidelines such as NICE and RCEMLearning. Expect scenarios focused on risk stratification (e.g., Glasgow-Blatchford score), fluid resuscitation, electrolyte correction, and the initial management of hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding.

A strong grasp of this chapter equips you to handle one of the most frequent — and potentially life-threatening — groups of emergencies in clinical practice, while scoring highly in the SBA exam.

Course Curriculum