Pulmonary Embolism(PE)

Question 1

what is a pulmonary embolism

Answer 1

blockage of a pulmonary artery by a blood clot, fat, tumour or air

Question 2

give 5 risk factors for developing a PE

Answer 2

pregnancy, obesity, age, malignancy, previous DVT/PE

Question 3

what could be found on chest examination of a PE

Answer 3

crackles, pleural rub or pleural effusion

Question 4

what may happen in a severe PE

Answer 4

sudden collapse or death

Question 5

give 4 symptoms of a PE

Answer 5

chest pain, SOB, haemoptysis, leg pain/swelling

Question 6

what kind of chest pain is felt in a PE

Answer 6

pleuritic

Question 7

give 5 signs of a PE

Answer 7

tachypnoea, tachycarida, fever, cyanosis, hypotension

Question 8

what test can be used to rule out a PE

Answer 8

D-dimer, if negative then no PE, if positive then possibly PE

Question 9

what are the main investigations used for a PE

Answer 9

D-dimer and CT pulmonary angiogram(CTPA)

Question 10

what is a CTPA used for and give one contraindication for it

Answer 10

used to visualise the pulmonary artery obstruction

contraindication = pregnancy

Question 11

what should be given to all PE patients unless they have a significant chronic lung disease

Answer 11

Oxygen + analgesia(all patients to numb pain)

Question 12

what drugs should be given to patient as soon as PE is suspected

Answer 12

anti-coagulants

e.g. LMWH + warfarin