Respiratory · UKMLA & AKT
Pulmonary embolism
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise pulmonary embolism — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
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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