American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What is a common comorbidity in patients with PE that may require inpatient management?

1. Non-specific abdominal pain

2. Respiratory failure

3. Chronic fatigue syndrome

4. Hypertension

The correct answer is: Respiratory failure

In patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), respiratory failure is a critical and common comorbidity that often necessitates inpatient management. PE can lead to compromised gas exchange and increased work of breathing, resulting in hypoxemia and respiratory distress. This condition may worsen rapidly, thus requiring intensive monitoring and potential interventions such as supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation, or other forms of respiratory support. This linkage between PE and respiratory failure highlights the need for careful assessment and management in a hospital setting, as timely intervention can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. Inpatient care allows for continuous monitoring and the ability to respond swiftly to any abrupt deterioration in a patient’s respiratory status, which is often essential given the acute nature of PE. Other options listed, while they may occur in the context of various health issues, do not directly relate to the critical and immediate risks posed by PE to respiratory function in the same way that respiratory failure does. Non-specific abdominal pain may stem from various benign or severe causes but is less tied to the immediate dangers of PE. Chronic fatigue syndrome, typically managed on an outpatient basis, does not require the acute intervention that respiratory failure might. Although hypertension can coexist with PE, it does not usually necessitate inpatient management unless it is secondary to the acute clinical