Pulmonary Embolism USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 58-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with sudden onset dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain 5 days after total knee replacement surgery. Her heart rate is 112 bpm, blood pressure is 130/85 mmHg, respiratory rate is 24, and oxygen saturation is 91% on room air. CT pulmonary angiography reveals a filling defect in the right main pulmonary artery with right ventricular dilation. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management?
Answer choices
- ASurgical embolectomy
- BInferior vena cava filter placement
- CSystemic thrombolysis with alteplase
- DUnfractionated heparin infusionCorrect answer
- EOral rivaroxaban alone
- FFondaparinux sodium injection
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