Pulmonary embolism is the sudden blockage of a major artery in the lung. This is usually due to a blood clot that developed in another part of the body, broke off and travelled with the blood stream into the lung circulation, blocking the pumping of the heart and oxygen uptake. The most frequent source of these blood clots (thrombi) is the deep vein circulation of the legs, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis.
The symptoms of acute pulmonary embolism usually begin suddenly and include:
Depending on your medical history, your doctor will perform a thorough physical examination and order imaging tests of the lungs and of the leg veins. Be sure to let your doctor know if you have had any symptoms, such as those listed above.
Treatment of acute pulmonary embolism is typically provided in a hospital, where your condition can be closely monitored. The goal of treatment is to primarily prevent the clot from growing and if symptoms are severe remove the clot to prevent shock, cardiac arrest or death. A secondary goal is to to reduce the severity of long-term pulmonary hypertension (shortness of breath, exercise intolerance).
Dr. Efthymios (Makis) Avgerinos is a Vascular Surgeon, Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in USA.
Efthymios D. Avgerinos, MD, PhD, FEBVS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center Pennsylvania, USA
E-mail: info@vascularhealth.gr
