Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) be a blockage of an artery insyd de lungs by a substance wey move from elsewer insyd de body thru de bloodstream (embolism). Symptoms of a PE fi include shortness of breath, chest pain particularly upon breathing in, den coughing up blood. Symptoms of a blood clot insyd de leg sanso fi be present, such as a red, warm, swollen, den painful leg. Signs of a PE dey include low blood oxygen levels, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, den sam times a mild fever. Severe cases fi lead to passing out, abnormally low blood pressure, obstructive shock, den sudden death.

PE usually dey result from a blood clot insyd de leg wey travel to de lung. De risk of blood clots be increased by advanced age, cancer, prolonged bed rest den immobilization, smoking, stroke, long-haul travel over 4 hours, certain genetic conditions, estrogen-based medication, pregnancy, obesity, trauma anaa bone fracture, den after sam types of surgery. A small proportion of cases be secof de embolization of air, fat, anaa amniotic fluid. Diagnosis be based on signs den symptoms in combination plus test results. If de risk be low, a blood test dem know as a D-dimer fi rule out de condition. Oda wise, a CT pulmonary angiography, lung ventilation/perfusion scan, anaa ultrasound of de legs fi confirm de diagnosis. Togeda, deep vein thrombosis den PE be known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Efforts to prevent PE dey include beginning to move as soon as possible after surgery, lower leg exercises during periods of sitting, den de use of blood thinners after sam types of surgery. Treatment be plus anticoagulant medications such as heparin, warfarin, anaa one of de direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Dem dey recommend dese to be taken for at least three months. However, treatment dey use low-molecular-weight heparin no be recommended for those at high risk of bleeding anaa those plus renal failure. Severe cases fi require thrombolysis using medication such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) given intravenously anaa thru a catheter, wey sam fi require surgery (a pulmonary thrombectomy). If blood thinners no be appropriate anaa safe to use, a temporary vena cava filter fi be used.

Pulmonary emboli dey affect about 430,000 people each year insyd Europe. Insyd de United States, between 300,000 den 600,000 cases dey occur each year, wich dey contribute to at least 40,000 deaths. Rates be similar insyd males den females. Dem cam be more common as people get older.

 References 

 External links 

 Wells criteria for pulmonary embolism online calculator 
 Clinical prediction website – Wells criteria for pulmonary embolism 


Category:Medical emergencies
Category:Pulmonary heart disease den diseases of pulmonary circulation
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