Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a condition in which a blood clot in the blood vessels of the lungs blocks the passage of blood from the heart to the lungs. It is a serious condition, and can lead to death if not treated immediately. PTE is the leading cause of sudden death in adults, and is a major cause of death from cardiovascular disease.

The risk factors for PTE include: age, gender, medications such as hormones, cancer, deep vein thrombosis, smoking, surgery, obesity, prolonged bed rest, trauma, and use of birth control pills. PTE can also occur in people with no known risk factors as it can happen spontaneously.

The most common symptom of PTE is shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include chest pain, rapid heart rate, sweating, lightheadedness, and even coughing up blood. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

Diagnosis

If your doctor suspects that you have PTE, he or she will likely order a chest X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to obtain images of your lungs. An ultrasound can also be used to detect clots in the veins. Your doctor may also order a pulmonary angiogram, which uses dye injected into the arteries of the lungs in order to evaluate for blockages.

Treatments

The goal of PTE treatment is to stop the clot from growing larger and prevent further blockage of the blood vessels in the lungs. Treatment typically involves the administration of medications, including anticoagulants, or blood thinners, and thrombolytics, which dissolve clots.

Once the clot has been stopped from growing, your doctor may recommend that you take medications to help prevent new clots from forming. Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may also recommend other interventions such as catheter-directed thrombolysis, surgical thrombectomy, or pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

Prevention

The best way to prevent PTE is to identify and reduce your risk factors for developing the condition. Some of these measures include:

Avoiding smoking
Maintaining a healthy weight
Exercising regularly
Avoiding long periods of sitting or bedrest
Taking medications as prescribed
Avoiding birth control pills or hormone replacement therapies unless medically necessary
Eating a healthy diet
Being aware of your individual risk factors for PTE and discussing them with your doctor