Net effect (suffocation), hardly distinguishable. With COPD the problem is on the airway side, clot in lung vessels (Pulmonary Embolism) on the blood side. Treatments differ and PE patients often have a lot of pain. In the ER they have to figure it out, quickly. I have seen patients die while they were in this process. From that picture, I'm surprised he made it to the hospital.
NP. Hope I didn't come across as patronizing. No way to know who you are talking at first. Old lab tech here, lot of front row seats to full codes in the ER.
Net effect (suffocation), hardly distinguishable. With COPD the problem is on the airway side, clot in lung vessels (Pulmonary Embolism) on the blood side. Treatments differ and PE patients often have a lot of pain. In the ER they have to figure it out, quickly. I have seen patients die while they were in this process. From that picture, I'm surprised he made it to the hospital.
Thanks for the info. I'm a nurse, but have seen way more COPD than PE (never). I get the anatomical differences, but have not seen a patient with PE.
NP. Hope I didn't come across as patronizing. No way to know who you are talking at first. Old lab tech here, lot of front row seats to full codes in the ER.