A 55-year-old woman presents with sudden onset pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea. She had a knee replacement 2 weeks ago. RR is 26 breaths/min, HR 110...

Question

A 55-year-old woman presents with sudden onset pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea. She had a knee replacement 2 weeks ago. RR is 26 breaths/min, HR 110 beats/min, BP 120/75 mmHg, SpO2 93% on room air. What is the most appropriate next investigation?

Accepted Answer

Ventilation-perfusion scan or CT pulmonary angiography depending on availability

Answer

D-dimer assay

Answer

Transthoracic echocardiogram only

Answer

Chest X-ray only

Answer

No imaging, treat empirically with antibiotics

au-racp MCQ (SBA): Pulmonary embolism

A 55-year-old woman presents with sudden onset pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea. She had a knee replacement 2 weeks ago. RR is 26 breaths/min, HR 110 beats/min, BP 120/75 mmHg, SpO2 93% on room air. What is the most appropriate next investigation?