A 50-year-old woman presents with pleuritic chest pain and breathlessness 5 days after a knee replacement. She is tachycardic and mildly hypoxic but h...

Question

A 50-year-old woman presents with pleuritic chest pain and breathlessness 5 days after a knee replacement. She is tachycardic and mildly hypoxic but haemodynamically stable. Clinical probability of pulmonary embolism is high. According to NICE guidance, which is the most appropriate initial management?

Accepted Answer

Start a direct oral anticoagulant and arrange CTPA within 24 hours

Answer

Arrange D-dimer testing and await the result

Answer

Reassure and review in 1 week

Answer

Give aspirin only and arrange outpatient V/Q scanning

Answer

Delay anticoagulation until imaging is performed

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Pulmonary embolism