Pulmonary Embolism

warfarin is a

Anticoagulant (blood thinner)

Chest pain is common with PE however it can be be substernal and mimic

angina

Which factor is an absolute contraindication to receiving a thrombolytic?

pregnancy recent gastrointestinal bleed hemorrhagic stroke a known bleeding disorder recent major surgery or trauma history of intracranial vessel malformation uncontrolled hypertension.

the obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by a thrombus that originates somewhere in the venous system orin the right side of the heart.

Pulmonary Embolism

Most common PE is

a dislodge or fragmented DVT

Other types of emboli are

air fat amniotic fluid septic (bacterial invasion of the thrombus)

ischemic necrosis of part of the lung is

pulmonary infaarction

Which intervention should be implemented for patients on any medications that increase the risk of bleeding?

signs of bleeding, which may include bleeding gums, bruising, and dark stools.

The most frequent sign of PE is

tachypnea (rapid respiratory rate)

alteplase is a .

thrombolytic

True or false: multiple small emboli can lodge in the terminal pulmonary arterioles, producing multiple small infarctions of the lungs?

true

PT and INR are monitored in patients receiving

warfarin.

Which medication is an example of an antiplatelet?

Aspirin & Clopidogrel

A patient is on a heparin infusion. Which lab value is used to titrate this medication?

Activated partial thromboplastin clotting time (aPTT)

How do antiplatelets work

Antiplatelets prevent platelets from sticking to stents,

The most frequent symptom of a PE is

Dyspnea

Other interventions when patients are at risk for bleeding are

maintaining fall precautions, avoiding IM injections, and using electric razors.

How do anticoagulants work?

Thin the blood to prevent clots and stop clots from getting bigger.

Hemoglobin is monitored with all anticoagulants but does not impact titration. True or False

True

other symptoms of PE are

anxiety fever tachycardia apprehension cough diaphoresis hemptosys syncope

Work up for a PE are

chest xray, ECG, pulse oximetry, arterial blood gas analysis, D-dimer assay, MDCTA or pulmonary arteriogram or V/Q scan .

How do thrombolytics work

dissolve clots by breaking down fibrin

Obstruction of the pulmonary artery can result in pronounces

dyspnea, sudden substernal pain, rapid and weak pulse, shock, syncope and sudden death