Pulmonary Embolism
When a blood clot or any other substance suddenly blocks a lung artery, the blockage produces a condition of pulmonary embolism. Unless other arteries can send sufficient blood to the affected part some of the affected area will have tissue death. If the clot is small and the body can break it up quickly the damage will be minimized. A large clot takes time to disintegrate, which will cause heavy damage and may be fatal. Most blood clots begin in a leg or pelvic vein and will form when a person stays in the same position for a long period of time such as a long airline trip. When the person starts moving the clot will break loose and will usually travel to the lungs.
Shortness of breath or anxiety may be all the symptoms from a mild embolism. In a more severe embolism the symptoms can be fainting or convulsions. This type of symptom results from the sudden decrease in the amount of oxygen rich blood the heart delivers to the brain and other vital organs. The diagnosis by the doctor can be made from symptoms of the person but it usually is confirmed by other methods such as chest x-ray, electrocardiogram or other options.
People at risk of pulmonary embolism should take measures to prevent blood clots from forming in the veins. For the elderly who have a heart condition or are recovering from an operation, a blood thinner may be desirable to take as well as getting out of bed as early as possible and moving about. Wearing elastic stockings and exercise will help prevent blood clots from forming.
Treatment begins with taking oxygen along with analgesics when needed. Heparin or Warfarin or both are given to prevent further damage from existing blood clots becoming larger and new ones from forming. For more critical cases the doctor has other options to use if necessary and appropriate. If nothing seems to work or anticoagulants cause severe bleeding, a filter can be placed in the main artery that goes to the legs to block blood clots from traveling up to the lungs. Most of the clots that form come from the legs so this procedure, which requires surgery, will eliminate most of the danger from clots.
