SAQ Stack

Short Answer Questions for ED Fellowship Study

Case: Acute pulmonary embolism

A 41-year-old female presents to your tertiary centre Emergency Department with acute onset shortness of breath and chest pain. Her past history includes obesity, hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes mellitus and active smoking. On arrival to resus, her observations are as follows :

  • RR 40
  • Sats 82% 15L/min NRB
  • HR 110
  • BP 95/60
T 37.7˚C On examination she is distressed and teary, auscultation of her chest is clear, central CR is 4s and she has cool peripheries

1. Excluding pulmonary embolism, list two other differential diagnoses for her presentation. 2 marks

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2. Define massive and submassive pulmonary embolism. 2 marks

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3. List four POCUS findings that may be found in submassive pulmonary embolism. 4 marks

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4. Outline your management of this patient. 4 marks

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This case forms part of a collaborative marking project designed to support fellowship preparation. In the week leading up to each tutorial, you can contribute answers to any active case. If you contribute, your answers may be reviewed, marked, and used to refine the model answers during the weekly fellowship teaching sessions.

All responses are displayed anonymously or using anonymised avatars. You remain in full control of your answers and may withdraw them at any time.

Your personal results and updated model answers become available the day after the tutorial.

After the tutorial you can still do the case and self-mark your answers, but your answers will not be included in the group review.