Frequently, the clot traveled from another part of the body. DVT and PE cause blood flow to slow in the area where the clot is located. A DVT may arise in patients who have undergone surgery on their legs, hips, or knees. A PE may occur when a clot formed somewhere else in the body becomes dislodged and travels to the lungs.
Women are at a greater risk of having a PE, especially if they smoke or take birth control pills. .
The symptoms of a DVT include pain, redness, or swelling in the leg. Patients with a PE may experience rapid breathing, have trouble breathing, and feel pain when they inhale. This helps to prevent the clot from traveling to other parts of the body. Occasionally, medication is used to dissolve the clot or surgery is done to remove the clot. It is very important that any patient with a DVT or PE goes to regularly scheduled appointments and has proper therapeutic monitoring because these conditions can be life threatening .