A 45-year-old previously healthy man presents with pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea. His Wells score for pulmonary embolism is 1.5 (low probability)....

Question

A 45-year-old previously healthy man presents with pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea. His Wells score for pulmonary embolism is 1.5 (low probability). He is haemodynamically stable, oxygen saturation is 98% on room air, and chest radiograph is normal. What is the most appropriate next step in investigation?

Accepted Answer

Obtain a high-sensitivity D-dimer assay

Answer

Proceed directly to CT pulmonary angiography

Answer

Order a ventilation-perfusion scan without other testing

Answer

Start therapeutic anticoagulation without imaging

Answer

Perform lower limb venous Doppler ultrasound only

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Pulmonary embolism diagnostic approach