A 40-year-old female presents with acute-onset pleuritic chest pain, cough, and haemoptysis. She recently completed a long-haul flight. Her heart rate...

Question

A 40-year-old female presents with acute-onset pleuritic chest pain, cough, and haemoptysis. She recently completed a long-haul flight. Her heart rate is 105 bpm, respiratory rate is 22, SpO2 is 93%, and blood pressure is 120/75 mmHg. Her Wells score is 7 (high probability for PE). She is haemodynamically stable. In the pre-hospital setting, what is the appropriate management?

Accepted Answer

High-flow oxygen, IV access, analgesia if needed, and rapid transport to hospital for CTPA; do NOT give anticoagulation pre-hospital without confirmed diagnosis

Answer

Administer IV heparin 80 units/kg immediately

Answer

Perform a D-dimer test at the scene

Answer

No treatment needed - stable patients with suspected PE can wait

Answer

Administer thrombolysis with alteplase 50 mg

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Stable PE - Pre-Hospital Management