While eating a meal in the hospital, a patient begins to demonstrate difficulty breathing and signs of choking. The nurse realizes that the patient is experiencing which of the following?

Question

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Difficulty breathing and choking during a meal can indicate a laryngeal obstruction, which is a blockage in the airway that prevents the patient from breathing. Epiglottitis, another possible option, is a condition where the epiglottis becomes inflamed and blocks the airway, but this is less likely to occur suddenly during a meal. Pulmonary emboli and acute myocardial infarctions do not typically cause choking or difficulty breathing during a meal.

While Eating a Meal in the Hospital, a Patient Begins