A 47-year-old woman has sudden pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea 10 days after knee arthroscopy. Pulse is 112/min and oxygen saturation is 92%. CT

Question

A 47-year-old woman has sudden pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea 10 days after knee arthroscopy. Pulse is 112/min and oxygen saturation is 92%. CT pulmonary angiography shows segmental pulmonary emboli without right ventricular strain. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

Accepted Answer

Start therapeutic anticoagulation

Answer

Give systemic thrombolysis despite stability

Answer

Place an inferior vena cava filter as first-line therapy

Answer

Treat with aspirin alone

Answer

Schedule outpatient pulmonary function testing before treatment

Pulmonary embolism — USMLE Step 3 MCQ