Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Practice Test

A patient with pain in her right calf and swelling in her right lower extremity is most likely suffering from:

1. heart failure

2. liver disease

3. fluid overload

4. deep vein thrombosis

The correct answer is: deep vein thrombosis

The presentation of pain in the right calf and swelling in the right lower extremity is highly indicative of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In cases of DVT, a blood clot typically forms in the deep veins of the legs, leading to symptoms such as localized pain, swelling, warmth, and possibly discoloration of the affected area. The pain often arises as the clot obstructs venous return in the limb, causing increased pressure in the veins and subsequent edema. Additionally, the unilateral nature of the swelling is a classic sign of DVT, as opposed to more systemic conditions which would likely affect both legs or present differently. Other conditions, such as heart failure or liver disease, can lead to generalized swelling due to fluid overload. However, these conditions usually cause bilateral swelling and do not typically cause localized pain in a single limb. Fluid overload may lead to swelling but lacks the acute pain that is characteristic of DVT. Therefore, when considering the symptoms presented—isolated calf pain and swelling—deep vein thrombosis stands out as the most likely diagnosis.