system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
Three days into hospitalization for a fractured distal femur, a 33-year-old man develops dyspnea and confusion. He has no history of a serious illness. He is unable to answer any questions or follow any commands. His blood pressure is 145/90 mm Hg, the pulse is 120/min, the respiratory rate is 36/min, and the temperature is 36.7°C (98.1°F). His oxygen saturation is 90% on 80% FiO2. On examination, purpura is noted on the anterior chest, head, and neck. Inspiratory crackles are heard in both lung fields. Arterial blood gas analysis on 80% FiO2 shows:
pH 7.54
PCO2 17 mm Hg
PO2 60 mm Hg
HCO3− 22 mEq/L
A chest X-ray is shown. Which of the following best explains the cause of these findings?
assistant
Fat embolism