Question

Explain the admission data in terms of the pathophysiology of her condition:

Your patient is a 51-year-old female, who presents to the emergency department (ED) via ambulance with severe shortness of breath and chest pain. She is evaluated and is eventually diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. She recently returned from Jamaica where she contracted traveler’s diarrhea with chills and anorexia. She reports a history of ulcerative colitis. Her current medications include ranitidine, sulfasalazine, and prednisone (all by mouth).Explain the admission data in terms of the pathophysiology of her condition Your patient is a 51-year-old female, who presents to the emergency department (ED) via ambulance with severe shortness of breath and chest pain. She is evaluated and is eventually diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. She recently returned from Jamaica where she contracted traveler’s diarrhea with chills and anorexia. She reports a history of ulcerative colitis. Her current medications include ranitidine, sulfasalazine, and prednisone (all by mouth). Admission Data: T 100.4 F (98.5) fever BP 106/69 (120/80) low P 105 (60-99) high RR 22 – (12-16) high O2 sat (by pulse oximetry) 90% on O2 @ 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula (NC)(95-100)low Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 25 ( 6-20) mg/dl) high Serum creatinine 1.1 (0.6-1.3 mg/dl) in range Hemoglobin (Hgb) 17 (13.5-18 g/dl) in range Hematocrit (Hct) 48 (42%-52%) in range WBC 18,000 (4K-10.5K/mcl) high Na 134 (135-145 mEq/L) slightly low K 3.2 (3.7-5.2 mEq/L) low ABGs: pH 7.33 (7.35-7.45) slightly low pCO2 50 mmHg, (34-45) high HCO3- 30 mEq per liter (22-28) slightly high pO2 78 mmHg (34-45) high SaO2 88% - 95-100) low

Answer 1

In this case pulmonary embolism is caused by blood clots travels to the lungs from colon due to ulcerative colitis. *increased temperature-inflamation of the pleura ,lungs and colon. *increased pulse rate and shortness of breath- reduced blood flow to the lungs. *low oxygen saturation-the blood clots leads to blockage of the normal flow blood. It will damage to lungs and low oxygen levels in blood. *increased BUN -due to gastrointestinal bleeding caused by ulcerative colitis. *increased WBC count-due to infection from ulcerative colitis. *increased HCO3-a high level of bicarbonate is from metabolic alkalosis. It happens from loss of acids from the body through dehydration from diarrhoea.