Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

To confirm the presence of an air embolism, a CT scan of the chest is employed due to its ability to provide detailed images of the vascular structures and detect air bubbles within the vascular system. Air embolisms occur when air enters the vascular system, potentially leading to serious complications like organ damage or stroke.

A CT scan is particularly effective because it can quickly visualize not only the air within blood vessels but also its location and extent, which is crucial for diagnosing and managing air embolisms. This imaging modality allows for prompt evaluation and intervention when an air embolism is suspected.

Other methods, while valuable for various diagnostic purposes, are not as reliable for specifically identifying air embolisms. X-ray imaging may not effectively show small amounts of air and is less sensitive in this context. An electrocardiogram primarily assesses heart function and electrical activity, not air in the vascular system. Ultrasound studies can help in certain cases, particularly in detecting superficial veins, but they may not provide a clear visualization of air within deeper vascular structures as effectively as a CT scan.