Pulmonary Embolism
What is a pulmonary embolism?
Pulmonary embolism is a condition that occurs when an artery in a lung becomes blocked. Usually, this blockage is due to one or more blood clots that have traveled to the lungs from another part of the body. While most blood clots originate in the legs, which can cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT), causing pulmonary embolism, blood clots can also form in arm veins or the right side of the heart.
Smaller clots prevent sufficient blood flow to the lungs, sometimes damaging the lung tissue (infarction). However, large clots completely blocking blood flow can be life-threatening. This is a serious condition that requires immediate attention.
What causes a pulmonary embolism?
Usually, a pulmonary embolism is caused by one or more blood clots that have traveled to your lungs from another part of the body. Most often, the clot may originate in the legs, but it can also come from veins in the arms or the heart.
While smaller clots that inhibit blood flow to the lungs can damage lung tissue, large clots can completely block blood flow and so are considered life-threatening.
Those most at risk for pulmonary embolisms are anyone resting in bed for long periods of time, due to illness or recovery from surgery, or remaining inactive because of long airplane rides or other travel. Anyone who has suffered a heart attack or stroke, has a hip fracture, chronic congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease or cancer is at risk.
What are the symptoms of pulmonary embolism?
- Sudden feeling of apprehension
- Shortness of breath
- Sharp chest pain
- Rapid pulse
- Sweating
- Cough with bloody sputum
- Fainting
If you have a sudden onset of any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
What are the causes and risk factors?
- Prolonged bed rest or inactivity due to long drives or airplane rides
- Having had a stroke or heart attack, chronic heart failure, recent surgery, or a hip or femur fracture
- Having cancer or chronic lung disease
- Using birth control pills
Simple measures, such as getting up to walk around or stretch frequently during times of prolonged sitting or travel, and treatment with “clot-busting” medications that break up blood clots or prevent new clots from forming, can help prevent pulmonary embolisms.
What treatment is available?
Options include:
- Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, are prescribed to prevent the clot from growing or new clots from forming while the body dissolves the existing clot on its own.
- Vena cava filters are placed in some patients if there is a potential for recurring blood clots, or in patients with chronic pulmonary disease to prevent more damage to the lungs’ blood vessels.
- Thrombolysis – a noninvasive procedure using “clot-busting” drugs to dissolve existing clots that cannot be dissolved over time by the body.
- Percutaneous thrombectomy, in which a catheter is sent to the blood clot site with x-ray guidance and a device breaks up the clot into small pieces readily absorbed by the body.
