Pulmonary Embolism

IV fluids may help or may hurt the pt who is hypotensive from pulmonary embolism, depending on which point on the Starling curve describes the pt's condition. A cautious trial of a small fluid bolus may be attempted, with careful surveillance of the systolic & diastolic blood pressures & immediate cessation if the situation worsens after the fluid bolus. Improvement or normalization of BP after fluid loading does not mean the pt has become hemodynamically stable.