A patient developed breathlessness and chest pain, on second postoperative after a total hip replacement. Echo-cardiography showed right ventricular dilatation and tricuspid regurgitation. What is the most likely diagnosis.
High-Yield Explanation
B i.e. Pulmonary embolism Onset of chest pain and breathlessness, together with echocardiographic evidence of right ventricular dilatation and tricuspid regurgitation after a high risk procedure (for thromboembolism) like total hip replacement suggests a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. For a patient presenting with acute breathlessness and chest pain, and in whom right ventricular dilatation with tricuspid regurgitation and mild elevation of pulmonary aery pressure is noted, a pulmonary embolus should be the initial diagnosis to be considered.