Introduction
Neurological emergencies represent some of the most time-critical and high-stakes scenarios encountered in Emergency Medicine. In the MRCEM SBA exam, neurology is a core, high-yield system, testing your ability to rapidly recognise life-threatening but potentially reversible conditions such as stroke, status epilepticus, subarachnoid haemorrhage, meningitis, and raised intracranial pressure.
A strong foundation in neurology enables you to localise lesions, interpret neurological findings, and distinguish between central and peripheral causes of key presentations such as weakness, visual loss, dizziness, or altered consciousness. The exam frequently assesses both diagnostic reasoning and early management steps, reflecting real-world expectations in the Emergency Department.
This chapter will help you develop a structured and time-efficient approach to common presentations, understand when to initiate time-critical interventions (e.g. thrombolysis, anticonvulsants), and know when to escalate to neurology or neurosurgery.
Mastering neurology for the MRCEM SBA is not just about recalling pathways — it’s about thinking critically, acting fast, and protecting patients from irreversible harm.
Course Curriculum
- Botulism
- Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
- Febrile Convulsion
- Functional illness
- Guillian-Barre syndrome
- Meningitis and encephalitis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
- Peripheral neuropathy (acute)
- Subarachnoid haemorrhage
- Stroke & TIA
- Tetanus
- Tumours involving the brain and spinal cord
- VP Shunts
- Wernicke’s Encephalopathy
- Headache
- Seizures/ status epilepticus
- Speech disturbance
- Gait abnormality
- Visual disturbance
- Dizziness and vertigo