What are common symptoms of postoperative pulmonary embolism?

Postoperative pulmonary embolism is a serious condition that can occur after surgery, characterized primarily by the sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery due to a blood clot. The most common and recognized symptoms associated with this condition include sudden shortness of breath and chest pain.

Shortness of breath can occur because the clot restricts blood flow in the lungs, leading to difficulty in oxygen exchange. Patients may experience an acute onset of difficulty breathing, which can range from mild to severe. Chest pain associated with pulmonary embolism is often described as sharp and can mimic the sensation of a heart attack, as it may be caused by irritation of the lung tissues or inflammation of the pleura surrounding the lungs.

The other symptoms in the alternative choices, while they may occur in various medical conditions, do not specifically align with those typically observed in postoperative pulmonary embolism. Decreased heart rate and fatigue are not characteristic; rather, patients often display increased heart rates due to the stress response and hypoxia. Nausea and vomiting can occur in numerous situations and are not definitive indicators of pulmonary embolism. Mild headache is also nonspecific and could be caused by a range of conditions unrelated to a clot in the pulmonary circulation.