Volume 11, Issue 11: Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary Embolism – a challenging pathology to diagnose

It is a busy Tuesday morning in your primary care practice. Rob is first on the list, a 48-year-old male who is complaining of acute pleuritic pain and cough, you decide on a face-to-face appointment. After an assessment you suspect pulmonary embolism – what do you do now?

CPD benefit

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a relatively common condition that can be lethal if it is not diagnosed correctly but as the symptoms can be non-specific it is easy to miss. This article describes the pathophysiology of PE and outlines common risk factors. It also gives guidance on how to assess and examine a patient if PE is suspected, including some of the more subtle signs and symptoms that may present in the primary care environment. This will enable you to make a diagnosis and ensure that treatment commences quickly before the patient’s condition deteriorates.

Assessment Answers

To check your answers to the quiz please see the back page of the issue or, to get your CPD Certificate, complete the quiz via the ParaPass app: parapassweb.co.uk.