QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
According to the updated NICE guidelines, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now the mainstay treatment for pulmonary embolism.
10002324
c
Oral warfarin for 3 months
QuestionChoice
This patient is presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of pulmonary embolism, particularly given her pleuritic chest pain, the recent long-haul flight and concurrent COCP use. A pulmonary embolism involves a blood clot (usually from a deep vein thrombosis) clogging up an artery in the lungs, resulting in impeded blood flow. The mainstay management of a pulmonary embolism with an obvious trigger (in this case, the history of recent travel) is to offer a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), such as oral apixaban, for 3 months.
10002322
a
Oral apixaban for 3 months
QuestionChoice
Although oral apixaban is the mainstay treatment for pulmonary emboli, it should only be offered for 3 months as this patient had a provoked pulmonary embolism (triggered by her recent air travel). However, if there was no obvious trigger behind her pulmonary embolus, oral apixaban would need to be given for 6 months.
10002323
b
Oral apixaban for 6 months
QuestionChoice
According to the updated NICE guidelines, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now the mainstay treatment for pulmonary embolism.
10002325
d
Oral warfarin for 6 months
QuestionChoice
According to the updated NICE guidelines, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now the mainstay treatment for pulmonary embolism, rather than low molecular weight heparin.
10002326
e
Subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin for 6 months
Concept
Chapter
2693
3724
Pulmonary Embolism
Topic
132
Respiratory
13011
A 34-year-old female presents to the Emergency Department complaining of chest pain which is worse when breathing in. She recently travelled abroad and mentions that her left leg felt quite sore when she arrived back in the UK. The patient has no relevant past medical history and is currently taking the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) for contraception.

The patient's observations are as follows: heart rate 112 bpm regular, blood pressure 130/92 mmHg, respiratory rate 21 breaths/minute, SpO2 96% on air, temperature 37.6 degrees Celsius. Respiratory examination appears normal.

Given the most likely diagnosis, what is the most appropriate treatment option for this patient?
a