A 40-year-old woman presents with pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea after a long-haul flight. She is haemodynamically stable and has a low Wells score...

Question

A 40-year-old woman presents with pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea after a long-haul flight. She is haemodynamically stable and has a low Wells score for pulmonary embolism. According to evidence-based diagnostic pathways, what is the most appropriate next step in evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Measure D-dimer and proceed to imaging only if elevated

Answer

Order CT pulmonary angiography immediately

Answer

Order a ventilation-perfusion scan immediately

Answer

Start therapeutic anticoagulation without further testing

Answer

Discharge without investigation as her Wells score is low

au-racp MCQ (SBA): Pulmonary embolism diagnosis

A 40-year-old woman presents with pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea after a long-haul flight. She is haemodynamically stable and has a low Wells score for pulmonary embolism. According to evidence-based diagnostic pathways, what is the most appropriate next step in evaluation?