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ANCC Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam Prep

Category - Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice Test

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Which of the following physiologic effects of a pulmonary embolism would initially affect oxygenation?
  1. A blood clot blocks ventilation; perfusion is unaffected.
  2. A blood clot blocks ventilation, producing hypoxia despite normal perfusion.
  3. A blood clot blocks perfusion and ventilation, producing profound hypoxia.
  4. A blood clot blocks perfusion, producing hypoxia despite normal or supernormal ventilation.
Explanation
Answer - D - The blood clot blocks blood flow to a region of the lung tissue. That area remains ventilated, but because blood flow is blocked, no gas exchange can occur in that region and a ventilation-perfusion mismatch is present. Ventilation isn’t initially affected by a blood clot because air can still move normally through the bronchial tree.
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