The Early Signs of Pulmonary Embolism, Research Paper Example

The development of a pulmonary embolism is rapidly becoming one of the most common causes of sudden, unexpected death. Due to the increasing occurrences, it is prudent for nursing healthcare professionals to learn as much as possible about the etiology, demographics, and signs and symptoms of this deadly occlusion.

In the article entitled “Knowing the Early Signs of Pulmonary Embolism”, the Pathophysiology and risk factors are presented first. It is common for a pulmonary embolism to arise from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These different types of occlusions general originate in the lower extremities with the lower extremities and pelvic areas being secondary. When various parts of the clot break off and move toward the heart, the blood travels to the lungs for oxygenation. The clot then reaches the pulmonary arteries, generally in the lower lobes of the lungs more often than the upper lobes.

Risk factors for pulmonary emboli include the aforementioned deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Pregnancies in all three trimesters have an increased likelihood of developing pulmonary emboli, and any situational that involves a patient being immobilized increases the risk as well. Recognizing the leading precursors of these occlusions will aid in the vigilance of nurses who take care of patients in any of these high-risk categories.

The most important aspect for a nurse to learn is the signs and symptoms to keep keenly vigilant. The signs observable by the nurse are wheezing, fainting, and a cough with sputum. The symptoms proffered by the patient are abdominal pain, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

References

“Knowing the Early Signs of Pulmonary Embolism”. Practice Nursing. Massachusetts: Mark Allen Publishing Ltd, 2008, Vol 19, No 12