Free ABIM Critical Care Exam Prep

Acute respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation modes and liberation, ARDS (Berlin definition, lung-protective ventilation, prone positioning, neuromuscular blockade, VV-ECMO per EOLIA), severe asthma and COPD exacerbations, pulmonary vascular disorders (massive and submassive PE, pulmonary hypertension, RV failure), and pleural emergencies.

Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of distributive, cardiogenic, hypovolemic, and obstructive shock; invasive and dynamic hemodynamic monitoring (PAC, arterial lines, pulse pressure variation, passive leg raise); vasoactive therapies (norepinephrine, vasopressin, epinephrine, inotropes); and post-cardiac arrest resuscitation (TTM2 trial, temperature control at 32-37.5°C per AHA 2025, neuroprognostication at ≥72 hours).

KDIGO acute kidney injury criteria, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT: CVVH, CVVHD, CVVHDF) versus intermittent hemodialysis, timing of RRT (AKIKI, STARRT-AKI trials), life-threatening dysnatremias and potassium disorders, complex acid-base disorders (anion gap, delta-delta, Stewart approach), and endocrine emergencies (DKA, HHS, thyroid storm, myxedema coma, adrenal crisis).

Acute coronary syndromes and mechanical post-MI complications, unstable tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias, temporary transvenous pacing, acute decompensated heart failure, cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support (IABP, Impella, VA-ECMO, Harlequin syndrome), valvular emergencies, pericardial tamponade, and aortic dissection.

Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2026 guidelines (blood cultures before antibiotics, antimicrobials ideally within 1 hour of recognition in septic shock, at least 30 mL/kg crystalloid in the first 3 hours, norepinephrine first with vasopressin added on escalation), ICU-acquired infections (VAP, CLABSI, CAUTI bundles), multi-drug resistant organisms (MRSA, VRE, CRE, ESBL), necrotizing soft tissue infections, and central nervous system infections.

Acute coma and delirium (CAM-ICU), status epilepticus and non-convulsive status epilepticus, acute ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH, subarachnoid hemorrhage, nimodipine, delayed cerebral ischemia), elevated intracranial pressure (osmotherapy, CPP ≥60 mmHg, EVD, decompressive craniectomy), acute neuromuscular weakness (myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome), and brain death determination.

Acute upper and lower GI bleeding (endoscopic intervention, octreotide/terlipressin, balloon tamponade), acute liver failure (King's College criteria, cerebral edema prevention, NAC), severe acute pancreatitis, and acute mesenteric ischemia.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (4T score, direct thrombin inhibitors), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), thrombotic microangiopathies (TTP/HUS, plasma exchange), restrictive transfusion strategy (TRICC trial, target Hgb 7 g/dL), massive transfusion protocols, and reversal of anticoagulation.

Damage control resuscitation, polytrauma, severe burn care (Parkland formula, inhalation injury), abdominal compartment syndrome (bladder pressure monitoring, surgical decompression), and postoperative care of complex surgical and vascular patients.

Critical illness pharmacokinetics and altered distribution volume, acute toxic ingestions and toxidromes (salicylates, acetaminophen, toxic alcohols, opioids, sympathomimetics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers), specific antidotes, and enhanced elimination.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) protocols in shock and respiratory failure, focused cardiac ultrasound (biventricular function, pericardial effusion, tamponade), lung ultrasound (A-lines, B-lines, lung sliding, consolidation, pneumothorax), and vascular/procedural guidance.

ICU administration, patient safety and quality metrics, surrogate decision-making, advance directives, withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining therapy, brain death ethics, and organ donation coordination.