Vascular Disease USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 44-year-old woman presents with unilateral left calf swelling and pain 5 days after pelvic surgery. Vital signs: BP 118/76 mmHg, HR 98/min, RR 18/min, SpO2 98% on room air, temperature 37.2°C. She denies chest pain or dyspnea. Duplex ultrasonography reveals a thrombus in the popliteal vein with normal compression. D-dimer is elevated at 2.8 μg/mL. Which of the following represents the strongest immediate concern related to this condition?
Answer choices
- ADevelopment of giant cell arteritis
- BSubarachnoid hemorrhage
- CEmbolization to the pulmonary arterial circulationCorrect answer
- DRupture of the aortic arch
- ECoronary vasospasm
- FAcute compartment syndrome of the lower extremity requiring fasciotomy
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