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Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

What is a pulmonary embolism (PE)?

When a pulmonary artery becomes clogged, it might result in a pulmonary embolism (PE). Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which results in blood clots moving from the legs to the lungs, frequently causes the blockage.

The pulmonary embolus, which frequently poses a threat to life, prevents blood from flowing to all or portion of the lung. Heart failure can develop from occlusion of the blood arteries in the lungs, which can also cause pulmonary hypertension, an increase in blood pressure in the lungs. The amount of oxygen in the circulation can also be reduced by pulmonary emboli.

Risk Factors

  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Inactivity
  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Smoking
  • Major surgery
  • Some cancers and chemotherapy
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Pregnancy
  • Birth control pills
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Disorders with increased clotting, such as the Factor V Leiden mutation

Symptoms

Pulmonary emboli can be fatal; thus, they need to be treated right away. PE can be fatal if left untreated.

  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
  • Lightheadedness
  • Chest pain, especially when coughing or exercising
  • Coughing blood
  • Blue lips or fingers (cyanosis)
  • Increased heart rate

Diagnosis

If you have deep vein thrombosis, your physical exam may be able to help your doctor diagnose PE, however the following tests may also be used:

  • D-dimer blood test
  • Computed tomographic angiography (CTA)
  • Pulmonary angiography using X-rays and a catheter inserted into the pulmonary arteries
  • Nuclear Medicine lung scan to measure air and blood flow in lungs

To check for associated illnesses or problems, other tests might also be carried out. Among these tests are, but not restricted to:

  • Ultrasonography with doppler of the legs
  • The electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • An echocardiogram is a cardiac ultrasound

Treatments

  • Pulmonary angiography
  • Thrombolysis

Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal