Overview
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is clot formation in the deep venous system — most commonly the femoral, popliteal, or iliac veins — that can fragment and travel to the pulmonary vas...
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is clot formation in the deep venous system — most commonly the femoral, popliteal, or iliac veins — that can fragment and travel to the pulmonary vasculature, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE). PE is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death; a massive PE (systolic BP <90 mmHg with hemodynamic instability) is rapidly fatal without immediate intervention. Top 3 nursing priorities: 1. Assess for signs of PE (sudden dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, SpO₂ <94%) — treat as emergency 2. Anticoagulate promptly to prevent clot extension and embolization 3. Stratify risk with Wells Score before ordering CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) Common NCLEX trap: Students choose to massage the calf of a patient with suspected DVT to assess tenderness — this is contraindicated because massage can dislodge a thrombus. Also, a negative D-dimer rules OUT PE only in low-probability patients; it does NOT rule out DVT in high-probability cases. On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with unstable data—notice the mismatch before you commit. If the stem names a license or role, reread that line; **scope...
