Medical Description

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is blockage of the pulmonary artery (or one of its branches). The pulmonary artery carries blood from the heart to the lungs. PE occurs usually when a venous thrombus (blood clot from a vein)becomes dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs. This process is termed thromboembolism.

Symptoms

• Difficulty breathing
• Pain in the chest during breathing
• Circulatory instability
• Sudden death

General Information

Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when an artery in the lungs becomes blocked. The blockage, in most cases, is caused by one or more blood clots, or thrombus, that travel to your lungs from another part of your body.

Blood clots usually originate in the legs, arm veins, on the right side of the heart or even at the tip of a catheter placed in a vein.

In most cases, a PE isn’t fatal. Still, pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of hospital.

Treatment, usually, is with anticoagulant medication. Rarely is PE treated with thrombolysis or surgery.

Sources: Craig Feied, “Pulmonary embolism,” www.eMedicine.com June 7, 2006, retrieved September 20, 2007; Mayo Clinic, Pulmonary embolism September 30, 2005, retrieved September 20, 2007.

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