Pulmonary embolism overview: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
'''Pulmonary embolism''' (PE) occurs when there is an acute obstruction of the [[pulmonary artery]] (or one of its branches). The obstruction can be caused [[thrombus]], air, [[tumor]], or [[fat]]. PE is a potentially lethal condition. Most often this is due to a [[vein|venous]] [[thrombus]] (blood clot from a vein), which has been dislodged from its site of formation and [[embolism|embolizes]] to the [[pulmonary artery|arterial]] blood supply of one of the lungs. This process is termed ''[[thromboembolism]]''. | '''Pulmonary embolism''' (PE) occurs when there is an acute obstruction of the [[pulmonary artery]] (or one of its branches). The obstruction can be caused by [[thrombus]], air, [[tumor]], or [[fat]]. PE is a potentially lethal condition. Most often this is due to a [[vein|venous]] [[thrombus]] (blood clot from a vein), which has been dislodged from its site of formation and [[embolism|embolizes]] to the [[pulmonary artery|arterial]] blood supply of one of the lungs. This process is termed ''[[thromboembolism]]''. | ||
In other, rarer forms of pulmonary embolism, material other than a blood clot is responsible; this may include | In other, rarer forms of pulmonary embolism, material other than a blood clot is responsible; this may include | ||
Revision as of 21:40, 1 December 2011
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Pulmonary Embolism Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Pulmonary Embolism Assessment of Probability of Subsequent VTE and Risk Scores |
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Treatment |
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Follow-Up |
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Special Scenario |
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Trials |
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Case Studies |
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Pulmonary embolism overview On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Pulmonary embolism overview |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Pulmonary embolism overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editors-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [2]
Synonyms and keywords: PE
Overview
Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when there is an acute obstruction of the pulmonary artery (or one of its branches). The obstruction can be caused by thrombus, air, tumor, or fat. PE is a potentially lethal condition. Most often this is due to a venous thrombus (blood clot from a vein), which has been dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs. This process is termed thromboembolism.
In other, rarer forms of pulmonary embolism, material other than a blood clot is responsible; this may include
- Fat
- Bone (usually in association with significant trauma)
- Air (often when diving)
- Clumped tumor cells
- Amniotic fluid (affecting mothers during childbirth).
Patients present with a wide array of symptoms and signs. These may include difficulty breathing, pain in the chest during breathing, and in more severe cases collapse, circulatory instability and sudden death. PE treatment requires rapid and accurate risk stratification before haemodynamic decompensation and the development of cardiogenic shock. Therapeutic application most often consists of an anticoagulant medication, such as heparin and warfarin, and rarely (in severe cases) with thrombolysis or surgery.