SAQ 517 – Respiratory – suspected pulmonary embolism with deterioration

A 41-year-old woman with social smoking, previous DVT and cholecystectomy 3 weeks earlier presents with 2 days of pleuritic chest pain, cough and dyspnoea. Initial observations and later deterioration are shown below.

Observation	Result
Initial HR	90/min
Initial SpO2	94% room air
Initial BP	115/75 mmHg
Initial RR	28/min
Initial temperature	37.6 C
Deterioration HR	130/min
Deterioration SpO2	86% room air
Deterioration BP	80/60 mmHg
Deterioration RR	35/min
Deterioration temperature	37.1 C

What is your first-choice definitive imaging test to rule out pulmonary embolism, and why?

(Marked out of 2.0)

/ 2

After she becomes more short of breath, dizzy and unstable, list six (6) criteria for safe transfer to definitive imaging.

(Marked out of 6.0)

/ 6

If these criteria are not met, how would you definitively diagnose pulmonary embolism?

(Marked out of 2.0)

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Imaging supports pulmonary embolism. List six (6) main factors that would influence the decision to thrombolyse.

(Marked out of 6.0)

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Total Score: 0 / 16

Percentage: 0%