Pulmonary embolism arrest — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: A — Treat as possible pulmonary embolism and follow ALS with local thrombolysis pathway advice

Option A is correct because Massive pulmonary embolism is a reversible cause of PEA arrest and may require pathway-specific thrombolysis decisions. Option B is less appropriate because watchful waiting risks deterioration or delays definitive care; option D is less appropriate because the clinical risk exceeds that destination or timeframe. Option E is less appropriate because it is plausible in a different scenario but suboptimal for the features described; option C is less appropriate because analgesia is important but not sufficient as the primary intervention. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines