Respiratory · UKMLA & AKT
Pulmonary embolism
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- Dyspnoea - sudden onset, most common symptom; V/Q mismatch + reflex hyperventilation
- Pleuritic chest pain - sharp, worse on inspiration; peripheral emboli causing pulmonary infarction
- Tachycardia - most reliable sign; >90% of cases
- Tachypnoea - ~95% of cases
- Hypoxia - with clear chest on auscultation (ventilated but not perfused)
- Low-grade fever - underappreciated; can mimic pneumonia
- Hypotension/syncope - massive PE; obstructive shock
- Signs of DVT - unilateral calf swelling, erythema, tenderness; ~30% of cases
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