A 75-year-old woman complains of shortness of breath. Which of the following findings should alert the EMT to the possibility of a pulmonary embolism?

The identification of a history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the patient is significant because DVT is a well-known risk factor for the development of a pulmonary embolism (PE). A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot that has formed in the deep veins of the legs (or other parts of the body) travels to the lungs and obstructs a pulmonary artery. The presence of DVT indicates that the patient may have venous stasis or hypercoagulable states, both of which are conditions that increase the likelihood of clot formation. Therefore, when assessing a patient with shortness of breath, a history of DVT raises the suspicion of a PE, prompting further evaluation and management.

While the other options may provide useful clinical information, they do not directly indicate a risk for pulmonary embolism in the same way. Frequent urinary tract infections or being prescribed an inhaler could be relevant to respiratory issues but do not specifically relate to the risk of PE. Similarly, abdominal swelling can occur for many reasons and is not directly associated with the development of a pulmonary embolism.