Crucial Exams

BCEN CEN Practice Question

A patient is brought to the emergency department with a sudden onset of severe shortness of breath, chest pain, and hypotension. A massive pulmonary embolism is strongly suspected. Which of the following is the most direct and immediate pathophysiologic cause of this patient's clinical deterioration?

  • Acute right ventricular failure due to a sudden increase in pulmonary vascular resistance.

  • Bronchoconstriction and mucus plugging resulting in severe hypoxemia.

  • Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) leading to widespread vasodilation.

  • Left ventricular failure caused by decreased systemic vascular resistance.

BCEN CEN
Respiratory Emergencies
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