A patient developed breathlessness and chest pain, on second postoperative day after a total hip replacement. Echo-cardiography showed right ventricular dilatation and tricuspid regurgitation. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Acute MI
Pulmonary embolism
Hypotensive shock
Cardiac tamponade
The clinical history corresponding to the 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. Ref: Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism, Page 253, 254; Feigenbaum's Echocardiography, 7th Edition, Page 762.