The nurse is caring for a client with a fractured femur that has not been repaired. Fat emboli and pulmonary emboli are both potential complications of this condition. Which symptoms would be suggestive of fat emboli versus a pulmonary emboli?
1. Difficulty breathing
2. Blood-tinged sputum
3. Restless and confusion
4. Petechiae over the trunk and in axillary folds
Answer: 4
Difficulty with respirations, blood-tinged sputum or frothy sputum, chest pain, and restlessness, irritability, and confusion are all common to pulmonary and fat emboli. A pulmonary embolus does not precipitate the development of petechiae over the trunk, buccal membrane, conjunctival sacs, and in anterior axillary folds.
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