Free Cardiac/Vascular Nurse Exam Secrets Study Guide by Mometrix Media Page A

blockage of arteries that supplies the lungs. Typically, pulmonary embolism occurs due to the traveling of a blood clot to the lungs from another organ system.
     
    In the United States, the incidence of pulmonary embolism is 0.9 cases per 100,000 population per year. The mortality rate associated with untreated pulmonary embolism in the United States averages between 18% and 30%. The mortality rate upon early diagnosis is approximately 8%.
     
    Pregnant women in their third trimester are at high risk of pulmonary embolism as well as women undergoing treatment with hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives. The prevalence of pulmonary embolism increases with age.
     

Causes and risks
    Risk factors for pulmonary embolism or clot formation include genetic predisposition, history of cardiovascular disease and/or family history of clot formation. Other factors that may lead to pulmonary embolism and clot formation include surgery such as hip and knee surgeries, long periods of inactivity such as prolonged bed rest or long plan or car trips, increased levels of clotting factors in the blood as associated with certain types of cancer, previous cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack or stroke, and injury to veins. The most common risk factor is the presence of deep venous thrombosis.
     
    Additional factors that put you at high risk for pulmonary embolism include obesity, comorbid cardiovascular diseases such as high cholesterol and hypertension, pacemakers or venous catheters, pregnancy, childbirth, hormone replacement therapy and smoking.
     

Symptoms
    The symptoms of pulmonary embolism vary depending on how much lung is involved, the size of the clot, the patient’s comorbid conditions and general health. However, many patients with pulmonary embolism are asymptotic and diagnosed during routine physical examination or when being evaluated for other conditions.
     
    Symptoms associated with pulmonary embolism include shortness of breath; chest pain that can radiate to an individual’s arm, shoulder, neck, or jaw; chest wall tenderness; back pain; upper abdominal pain; painful respiration; cardiac arrhythmia; persistent cough with blood-streaked sputum; tachycardia; wheezing; leg swelling; clamminess; discoloration of skin including bluish-colored skin; excessive sweating; anxiety; weak pulse; lightheadedness; fainting; and/or fever.
     

Diagnosis and screening
    Physical examination, medical history, and diagnostic tools are used to diagnose pulmonary embolism. However, the condition is difficult to diagnose because patients may present with varying symptoms and have other comorbid conditions such as respiratory or heart disease.
     
    Diagnostic tools used to diagnose pulmonary embolism include chest x-ray, ventilation-perfusion scan, spiral computerized tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and pulmonary angiogram. Blood tests may also be used to detect blood clots including D-dimer blood test. Other blood tests used to aid in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism include complete blood count, lipid levels, and metabolic levels. More invasive approaches include venography. Of all these methods, most modern hospitals use computed tomography (CT) scans with intravenous (IV) contrast.
     

Deep venous thrombosis
     
    Deep venous thrombosis is a condition that involves the formation of blood clots in the veins deep within the body, which can dislodge and embolize into other organ systems such as the lungs, heart, and brain. The condition mainly affects the lower legs and thigh. Deep venous thrombosis is also known as blood clots in the legs, venous thrombosis, and venous thrombus.
     
    In the United States, the incidence of deep venous thrombosis is approximately 4.2 cases per 100,000 population per year. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis increases with age, with those over the age of 60 at higher risk.
     

Causes and risk factors
    Risk factors for deep venous thrombosis includes prolonged