Question

A 23yo patient develops sudden shortness of breath & dropping O2 pulse ox sat to 90% on 4LNC post-repair of a fractured pelvis and femur 4 days prior. In assessing, the RN knows the most probable cause of the respiratory distress is:

A. Bronchitis
B. Pulmonary Embolism
C. Atelectasis
D. Asthma Attack

Answer 1

The most probable cause of respiratory distress post-repair of a fractured pelvis and femur in a 23-year-old patient with a sudden drop in oxygen saturation is a Pulmonary Embolism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the recent history of pelvic and femoral repair and sudden onset of shortness of breath with a decreased oxygen saturation, the most probable cause for the respiratory distress in the 23-year-old patient is B. Pulmonary Embolism. This condition occurs when a blood clot, typically formed in the legs or pelvis, travels to the lungs and blocks a pulmonary artery.

Post-operative patients are at an increased risk for this complication due to periods of immobility, which can lead to clot formation. In contrast, Bronchitis and Asthma Attack typically present with respective histories of infection and chronic respiratory issues, while Atelectasis, the collapse of lung tissue, might be considered in a post-operative patient, but it is less likely to cause a sudden drop in oxygen saturation compared to pulmonary embolism.