A 28-year-old G1P1, 3 days postpartum after vaginal delivery, develops new shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. HR 112, SpO₂ 92%. What is the...

Question

A 28-year-old G1P1, 3 days postpartum after vaginal delivery, develops new shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. HR 112, SpO₂ 92%. What is the best initial diagnostic test?

Accepted Answer

CT pulmonary angiography

Answer

D-dimer assay

Answer

V/Q scan without imaging first

Answer

Lower-extremity venography

Answer

Echocardiogram as first-line

us-usmle-step-2 MCQ (SBA): Pulmonary embolism diagnosis postpartum

A 28-year-old G1P1, 3 days postpartum after vaginal delivery, develops new shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. HR 112, SpO₂ 92%. What is the best initial diagnostic test?