This may happen in people who are bedridden, are recovering from surgery, or have broken leg bones. PE generally occurs when a piece of a blood clot from the leg or the right side of the heart is carried by the bloodstream and blocks a blood vessel in the lung. Discuss any questions you may have with your healthcare provider. Most people who have DVT do not know it. Only about 4 out of 100 people will have symptoms.
Symptoms can include pain and swelling in the leg.
5 People with PE may have trouble breathing, experience rapid breathing, and have one-sided chest pain when inhaling. If left untreated, PE can be fatal. Most fatal cases of PE are a result of recurrence, rather than the initial episode. 6 People with DVT and PE usually are treated with medications that prevent more clots from forming. Occasionally, medication is used to dissolve the clot.