What is a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a sudden blockage in a lung artery. It usually happens when a when a blood clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. PE is a serious condition that can cause
Permanent damage to the lungs
Low oxygen levels in your blood
Damage to other organs in your body from not getting enough oxygen
PE can be life-threatening, especially if a clot is large, or if there are many clots.
What causes a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
The cause is usually a blood clot in the leg called a deep vein thrombosis that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lung.
Who is at risk for a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
Anyone can get a pulmonary embolism (PE), but certain things can raise your risk of PE:
Having surgery, especially joint replacement surgery
Certain medical conditions, including
Cancers
Heart diseases
Lung diseases
A broken hip or leg bone or other trauma
Hormone-based medicines, such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
Pregnancy and childbirth. The risk is highest for about six weeks after childbirth.
Not moving for long periods, such as being on bed rest, having a cast, or taking a long plane flight
Age. Your risk increases as you get older, especially after age 40.
Family history and genetics. Certain genetic changes that can increase your risk of blood clots and PE.
Obesity
What are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
Half the people who have pulmonary embolism have no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they can include shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing up blood. Symptoms of a blood clot include warmth, swelling, pain, tenderness and redness of the leg.
How is a pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosed?
It can be difficult to diagnose PE. To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will
Take your medical history, including asking about your symptoms and risk factors for PE
Do a physical exam
Run some tests, including various imaging tests and possibly some blood tests
What are the treatments for a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
If you have PE, you need medical treatment right away. The goal of treatment is to break up clots and help keep other clots from forming. Treatment options include medicines and procedures.
Medicines
Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, keep blood clots from getting larger and stop new clots from forming. You might get them as an injection, a pill, or through an I.V. (intravenous). They can cause bleeding, especially if you are taking other medicines that also thin your blood, such as aspirin.
Thrombolytics are medicines to dissolve blood clots. You may get them if you have large clots that cause severe symptoms or other serious complications. Thrombolytics can cause sudden bleeding, so they are used if your PE is serious and may be life-threatening.
Procedures
Catheter-assisted thrombus removal uses a flexible tube to reach a blood clot in your lung. Your health care provider can insert a tool in the tube to break up the clot or to deliver medicine through the tube. Usually you will get medicine to put you to sleep for this procedure.
A vena cava filter may be used in some people who cannot take blood thinners. Your health care provider inserts a filter inside a large vein called the vena cava. The filter catches blood clots before they travel to the lungs, which prevents pulmonary embolism. But the filter does not stop new blood clots from forming.
Can pulmonary embolism (PE) be prevented?
Preventing new blood clots can prevent PE. Prevention may include
Continuing to take blood thinners. It's also important to get regular checkups with your provider, to make sure that the dosage of your medicines is working to prevent blood clots but not causing bleeding.
Heart-healthy lifestyle changes, such as heart-healthy eating, exercise, and, if you smoke, quitting smoking
Using compression stockings to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Moving your legs when sitting for long periods of time (such as on long trips)
Moving around as soon as possible after surgery or being confined to a bed
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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