Pulmonary Embolism :

What is it?

What is it? Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism
The most common symptom is otherwise unexplained shortness of breath. Chest pain with breathing is also common. However, PE can be difficult to diagnose and has been called “the Great Masquerader.” It can mimic pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and a viral illness known as pleurisy. 

Pulmonary Embolism : Symptoms

■Shortness of breath
■Chest pain, often worse when taking a breath
■A feeling of apprehension
■Sudden collapse
■Coughing
■Sweating
■Bloody phlegm (coughing up blood)


The signs and symptoms of these disorders can vary by individual and event. Some individuals may also experience uncommon symptoms such as dizziness, back pain or wheezing. Because PE can be fatal, if you experience these signs or symptoms seek medical attention right away. What is Pulmonary Embolism (PE)?
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that lodges in the lung arteries. The blood clot forms in the leg, pelvic, or arm veins, then breaks off from the vein wall and travels through the heart into the lung arteries. Most PEs are due to pelvic and upper leg blood clots that first grow to a large size in the vein before detaching and traveling to the lungs. PE can cause death or chronic shortness of breath from high lung artery pressures (“pulmonary hypertension”). PE can impair heart muscle function, especially the right ventricle, which pumps blood into the lung arteries.

Pulmonary Embolism : Diagnosis

How is Pulmonary Embolis Diagnosed?
The definitive diagnosis of PE must be made in a hospital or clinic with radiology facilities. A chest CT scan (“CAT scan”) or a nuclear medicine scan are the most common tests to establish the diagnosis of PE. The most crucial point is for patients and their health care providers to consider the possibility of PE. Prior to chest CT scanning or a nuclear medicine scan, doctors may determine the likelihood of PE by doing screening tests such as a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and blood test called a “D-dimer.” Low D-dimer levels virtually exclude PE.

Pulmonary Embolism : Treatment

How is Pulmonary Embolism Treated?
The foundation of treatment is thinning the blood with anticoagulants such as immediately-acting heparin, low molecular weight heparin, fondaparinux, or direct thrombin inhibitors (argatroban, lepirudin, or bivalirudin) and the slow-onset oral blood thinner, warfarin. An immediately acting intravenous or injected blood thinner must be administered right away. The oral blood thinner, warfarin, takes about 5 days to become effective to prevent the development of a recurrent PE. In addition to blood thinners, more aggressive therapy includes “clot buster” drugs such as TPA or catheter-based or surgical embolectomy to remove the PE.

The duration of treatment with the oral blood thinner will vary from a 6 month minimum to lifelong, depending upon the circumstances of the PE and other individual risk factors.

Prevention
Prevention of PE is a lot easier than diagnosis or treatment. Therefore, when hospitalized, it is important to ask your health care providers what measures are being taken to prevent PE. These can include mechanical preventive efforts such as use of graduated compression stockings or prescription of low doses of blood thinners such as unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin, or fondaparinux.  

Pulmonary Embolism : FAQ’s

General info on Pulmonary Embolism
Q. Can DVT cause a PE?

A. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot, or thrombus, develops in the large veins of the legs or pelvic area. Only half of those with DVT will have typical symptoms of leg swelling and pain. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, the majority of DVTs are not life threatening. However, if the blood clot breaks loose and travels through the heart to the lung, a condition known as a pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs. If the traveling clot, called an embolus clogs the main lung artery, it can be fatal. In 66% of all DVT cases, PE is the primary cause of death. On average 650,000 PEs occur annually and it is the third most common cause of hospital death.

Source: http://www.vdf.org/diseaseinfo/pe/