The patient is a 38-year-old woman who fell and broke her left femur. The woman is complaining of severe pain. Her vital signs are blood pressure, 116/70 mm Hg; pulse, 90 beats/min; and respirations, 18 breaths/min. After caring for the woman's injury, you and your team place the woman on the stretcher and in the ambulance. You decide to monitor the patient's pulse oximetry. Although the woman's vital signs remain nearly unchanged, her SpO2 drops from 98 to 92 and her skin becomes slightly pale. Which of the following is the most likely cause for the drop in SpO2?
a. Development of shock lung
b. Loss of blood because of the fracture
c. Malfunctioning pulse oximeter
d. Severe pain interrupting breathing
Answer: b. Loss of blood because of the fracture
Health Professions
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