A 24-year-old skier with a broken femur has been in the postanesthesia care unit for 24 hours and is 12 hours post-extubation with no supplemental oxygen.He is awake,alert,and oriented,and he reports shortness of breath.A capnograph shows decreased PETCO₂.This patient's current status could be caused by which of the following?
A) Respiratory center depression
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Muscular paralysis
D) Alveolar shunt

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Long-bone fractures put a patient at risk for the development of pulmonary emboli.The decreased PETCO₂ is showing that physiologic dead space has increased because of the blockage of pulmonary arterioles.

A 24-Year-Old Skier with a Broken Femur Has Been in the Postanesthesia