Pulmonary embolism
NCLEX-RN glossary · Management Of Care
Definition
An arterial blockage in the lungs, typically from a deep vein thrombus, causing a life-threatening ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. It is a high-priority 'Threat' cue in the survival hierarchy.
Pulmonary embolism in plain English
It requires rapid recognition of sudden dyspnea and chest pain to initiate life-saving anticoagulation or emergency intervention. The main trap is misinterpreting sudden respiratory distress as anxiety or chronic lung disease rather than an acute, obstructive circulatory emergency.
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