What diagnosis should be suspected in a 45-year-old woman complaining of chest and abdominal pain after recently being discharged following delivery?

In a 45-year-old woman who has recently given birth and is now experiencing chest and abdominal pain, pulmonary embolism is a critical diagnosis to consider. This condition occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs, often originating from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which can develop postpartum due to factors such as prolonged immobility, increased clotting factors during pregnancy, and changes in blood flow.

Given the timing of the symptoms occurring shortly after delivery, the risk of developing a thromboembolic event is heightened. Women are particularly susceptible to pulmonary embolism in the postpartum period because of physiological changes associated with childbirth and higher incidences of venous thromboembolism. Symptoms of pulmonary embolism can include chest pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes abdominal pain if the diaphragm is irritated, which aligns with the patient's complaints.

The other choices, while they may present with similar symptoms in different contexts, are less likely given the specific recent postpartum history. Cardiac arrest is typically sudden and often occurs without warning signs in this demographic. A ruptured ovarian cyst may cause abdominal pain and could lead to internal bleeding but is less frequently associated with chest pain. Cholecystitis can cause abdominal pain but is not typically linked directly to recent