Pulmonary Embolism (Chapter 24 ATI)

• PaCO2 levels are low in PE due to initial hyperventilation
• PE occurs when a substance enters the venous circulation and forms a blockage in the pulmonary vasculature
• increased hypoxia to pulmonary tissue and impaired blood flow can result from a large embolus
• risk factors for PE include smoking, pregnancy, heart failure, a-fib, obesity
• expected findings in PE: anxiety, feeling of impending doom, sudden chest pressure, pain with inspiration, dyspnea, and coughing up blood
• respiratory alkalosis turns into respiratory acidosis as hypoxemia progresses
• PE manifestations: pleural friction rub, tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea, low-grade fever, petechiae
• complications of PE include decreased cardiac output due to decreased blood volume and risk for hemorrhage due to anticoagulant therapy
• anticoagulants such as heparin, enoxaparin, and warfarin are used to prevent clots from getting larger or additional clots forming