A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a colon resection. For which of the following findings should the nurse monitor to identify a pulmonary embolus?

Choice A rationale Swelling of a lower extremity is a primary sign of a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), the condition that predisposes a client to a pulmonary embolus (PE). A PE occurs when a thrombus (often from a DVT) embolizes to the pulmonary vasculature. Monitoring for DVT symptoms is essential, but the hallmark sign of the resultant PE is respiratory compromise. Choice B rationale A burning sensation when voiding (dysuria) is a classic symptom of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), due to irritation and inflammation of the bladder lining (cystitis) or urethra. This finding is entirely unrelated to a pulmonary embolus, which involves the cardiovascular and respiratory systems when an embolus lodges in the pulmonary arteries. Choice C rationale Sudden shortness of breath (dyspnea) is the most common and often dramatic symptom of a pulmonary embolus. This acute symptom arises from the occlusion of the pulmonary arteries by the embolus, which leads to a severe ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch and subsequent hypoxemia and rapid respiratory distress. Choice D rationale Purulent drainage at a suture line is the definitive local sign of a Surgical Site Infection (SSI), which indicates a bacterial invasion and inflammatory response in the wound bed. This finding relates to local wound healing complications and has no direct causal relationship with the development or signs of a pulmonary embolus.