ASPEX-CCM Exam Format | ASPEX-CCM Course Contents | ASPEX-CCM Course Outline | ASPEX-CCM Exam Syllabus | ASPEX-CCM Exam Objectives

ASPEX-CCM Exam Outline Critical Care Medicine (CCM) Examination Content Outline 1. Basic Pathophysiology * Central Nervous System * Altered mental status * Encephalopathy * Delirium * Brain death * Cerebral blood flow * Degenerative brain diseases * Traumatic brain injury * CNS infections * Intracranial compliance and mass lesions * Neuromuscular disorders * Seizures and status epilepticus * Spinal cord injury * Stroke * Hemorrhagic * Ischemic * Vascular malformations * Cardiovascular * Cardiac transplantation * Adult congenital heart disease * Coronary artery disease * Myocardial ischemia/infarction * Deep vein thrombosis * Pulmonary and systemic hypertension * Endocarditis * Myocarditis * Pericarditis * Left and right ventricular dysfunction * Peripheral vascular disease * Aneurysms and dissections * Rhythm disturbances * Asystole * Atrial fibrillation/flutter * Heart block * PEA * Ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation * WPW syndrome * Shock states * Cardiogenic * Distributive * Hypovolemic * Obstructive * Structural heart disease * Valvular disorders * Oxygen supply and demand * Cardiac trauma * Pulsus paradoxus * Pulmonary * Airway diseases * Obstructive * Restrictive * Reactive * Aspiration * Embolic disorders * Pulmonary infections * Empyema * Mediastinitis * Pneumonia * Tracheobronchitis * Inflammatory and autoimmune lung disease * Lung transplantation * Airway disruption * Pneumothorax * Bronchopleural fistula * Pleural effusion * Chest trauma * Pulmonary mechanics * Respiratory failure * ARDS * Hypoxemic * Hypercapnic * TRALI * TACO * Sleep apnea * Pulmonary edema * Renal * Renal infections * Acute and chronic renal failure * Intrinsic renal disease * Pre renal and post renal failure * Renal tubular acidosis * Hematologic and Oncologic * Bone marrow transplantation * Coagulopathies * DIC * Factor deficiencies * Hemoglobin disorders * Anemia * Polycythemia * Methemoglobinemia * Sickle cell disease * Platelet abnormalities * HIT * TTP * ITP * Tumor lysis syndrome * Leukemia and lymphoma * Obstetric * Pregnancy complications * HELLP syndrome * Pre eclampsia/eclampsia * Pregnancy physiology * Respiratory physiology in pregnancy * Endocrine * Adrenal insufficiency * Cushing syndrome * Pheochromocytoma * Diabetes mellitus * DKA * Hyperglycemic coma * Hypoglycemia * Diabetes insipidus * SIADH * Panhypopituitarism * Thyroid storm * Myxedema * Gastrointestinal * Abdominal compartment syndrome * Bowel disorders * Bowel ischemia * Pseudomembranous colitis * Gall bladder disease * GI hemorrhage * GI motility disorders * Toxic megacolon * Pancreatitis * Pancreatic cancer * Hepatic failure * Hepatic encephalopathy * Hepatorenal syndrome * Hepatitis * Dermatologic * Allergic reactions * Pressure injuries * Cellulitis * Necrotizing soft tissue infection * Stevens Johnson Syndrome * Immunologic * Autoimmune disease * Rheumatoid arthritis * Systemic lupus erythematosus * Vasculitis * HIV/AIDS * Immunosuppression * Graft versus host disease * Acid Base and Electrolyte Disorders * Metabolic acidosis/alkalosis * Respiratory acidosis/alkalosis * Mixed acid base disorders * Electrolyte abnormalities * Sodium * Potassium * Calcium * Magnesium * Phosphorus * Chloride --- ## 2. Critical Illness Diagnosis and Management * Central Nervous System * Coma and delirium * Brain death * CNS infections * Stroke management * Neuromuscular disease * ICP monitoring * EEG interpretation * Lumbar puncture * CT/MRI imaging * Anticonvulsants * Neuroprotective therapies * Vasospasm management * CSF drainage * Thrombolytics * Cardiovascular * Myocardial infarction * Cardiomyopathy * Pericardial tamponade * Shock management * Hemodynamic monitoring * ECG interpretation * Cardiac imaging * Anticoagulation * Antidysrhythmics * ECMO * Pacemakers and defibrillators * Intraaortic balloon pump * Pericardiocentesis * Vasoactive medications * Pulmonary * Pulmonary embolism * Ventilator associated pneumonia * ARDS * Pulmonary edema * Inhalation injury * Blood gas analysis * Bronchoscopy * Thoracentesis * Mechanical ventilation * APRV * SIMV * Pressure support * Volume control * Noninvasive ventilation * BiPAP * CPAP * ECMO * Prone positioning * Renal * Contrast nephropathy * Hepatorenal syndrome * Rhabdomyolysis * Renal trauma * Renal transplantation * Renal imaging * Fluid and electrolyte therapy * Diuretics * Hemodialysis * CRRT * Peritoneal dialysis * Hematologic and Oncologic * Hypercoagulable states * Leukemia and lymphoma * Coagulation studies * TEG/ROTEM * Blood transfusion * Plasmapheresis * Anticoagulants * Factor Xa inhibitors * IVC filters * Obstetric Critical Care * Obstetric hemorrhage * Amniotic fluid embolism * HELLP syndrome * Peripartum infection * Obstetric trauma * Cardiotocography * Antihypertensives * Delivery management * Endocrine * Thyroid storm * Myxedema coma * SIADH * Diabetes insipidus * Glucose management * Hormone replacement * DDAVP therapy * Gastrointestinal * GI bleeding * GERD * Liver failure * Pancreatitis * Liver transplantation * Abdominal trauma * Endoscopy * ERCP * Nutritional support * Lactulose and rifaximin * Therapeutic paracentesis * Dermatologic * Burns * Wound care * Hyperbaric therapy * Immunotherapies * Immunologic * HIV/AIDS * Autoimmune disease * Immunosuppressive therapies * HAART * Calcineurin inhibitors * Acid Base and Electrolyte Disorders * ABG interpretation * Osmolarity analysis * Ventilatory support * Electrolyte replacement --- ## 3. Specialized Areas * Biostatistics * Odds ratio * Relative risk * Confidence intervals * Sensitivity and specificity * PPV/NPV * ROC curves * Regression analysis * Kaplan Meier curves * p values * Type I and II errors * ANOVA * t tests * Disaster Management * Triage * Chemical exposure * Nuclear exposure * Epidemic management * COVID 19 * SARS * Drowning * Fresh water drowning * Salt water drowning * ICU Ethics * End of life care * Futility * Organ donation * Hospice * Patient autonomy * Informed consent * ICU Management and Organization * Sepsis bundles * HIPAA * ICU transport * APACHE * SOFA * CAM ICU * RASS * Telemedicine * Resource utilization * Infection Control * Isolation precautions * Needle stick injuries * Nosocomial infections * CAUTI * VAP * Life Support and Resuscitation * ACLS * ATLS * Nutrition Management * Enteral nutrition * Parenteral nutrition * Refeeding syndrome * Nitrogen balance * Indirect calorimetry * Pain and Sedation * Systemic analgesia * Regional analgesia * Sedation complications * Pharmacology * Antibiotics * Antifungals * Antivirals * Antiparasitics * Antidepressants * Antipsychotics * Sedatives * Neuromuscular blockers * Drug metabolism * Pharmacokinetics * Pharmacodynamics * Poisonings and Overdoses * Procedures * Airway management * Tracheostomy * Cricothyrotomy * Ultrasound guided procedures * Vascular access * Arterial lines * Central venous access * Intraosseous access * Thermoregulation * Heat stroke * Malignant hyperthermia * Serotonin syndrome * Hypothermia * Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion * Implicit bias * Health inequities * Cultural competency * Allyship * Tokenism * Representation * Healthcare Disparities * Social determinants of health * Maternal mortality disparities * Rural versus urban care * ICU disparities * Ethics and Medico Legal Issues * Medical malpractice * HIPAA * Controlled substances * DNR orders * Shared decision making * Research ethics * Burnout * Substance abuse * Practice Management * Healthcare funding * Cost conscious care * OR staffing * Population health * EMR systems * Artificial intelligence * Documentation and coding * Billing compliance * Quality Improvement and Patient Safety * Medical errors * Sentinel events * Medication reconciliation * Simulation training * Crisis management * Root cause analysis * Lean Six Sigma * Failure mode analysis * Public reporting * Benchmarking * Pay for performance