Obstetric emergencies: pulmonary embolism: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Obstetric emergencies: pulmonary embolism

Sample item

A pregnant woman at 28 weeks with suspected pulmonary embolism and a normal chest radiograph needs imaging. Which is acceptable?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ventilation-perfusion scan or CT pulmonary angiography

V/Q scanning or CTPA are acceptable with low fetal radiation doses, and treatment is started with LMWH while waiting. Compression ultrasound of the legs can avoid radiation if a DVT is present. Gadolinium is avoided in pregnancy.

Option by option

  • A. Ventilation-perfusion scan or CT pulmonary angiography (correct)

    Correct. Both exposures are well below the fetal risk threshold.

  • B. No imaging, treat as asthma

    Missing PE carries a high mortality.

  • C. MRI with gadolinium contrast

    Gadolinium crosses the placenta and is avoided.

  • D. Fluoroscopic angiography only

    Conventional angiography is not first-line.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Ventilation-perfusion scan or CT pulmonary angiography. V/Q scanning or CTPA are acceptable with low fetal radiation doses, and treatment is started with LMWH while waiting.

Why is "No imaging, treat as asthma" not the answer?

Missing PE carries a high mortality.

Why is "MRI with gadolinium contrast" not the answer?

Gadolinium crosses the placenta and is avoided.

Why is "Fluoroscopic angiography only" not the answer?

Conventional angiography is not first-line.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Obstetric emergencies: pulmonary embolism in OBG. Compression ultrasound of the legs can avoid radiation if a DVT is present. Gadolinium is avoided in pregnancy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Obstetric emergencies: pulmonary embolism?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.