A respiratory therapist is working in the emergency departme…
A respiratory therapist is working in the emergency department and notified an ambulance crew is bringing in a patient who suddenly collapsed, and is currently without a pulse. CPR is in progress. The patient’s spouse arrives and gives this information: the patient has limited mobility, smokes 1 ppd, and recently developed swelling only in his right leg. What disease process is high on the RT’s list of differential diagnoses for his acute problem (sudden collapse, pulseless)?