Pulmonary embolisms

The sudden death of healthy young people can often be attributed to pulmonary embolism. But what exactly is a pulmonary embolism?

In a pulmonary embolism, a pulmonary artery is blocked by a blood or fat clot. This means that oxygen can no longer be added to the blood. The larger the blocked blood vessel, the bigger the problem. If the clot is so large that both the left and right pulmonary arteries become blocked, death can occur very quickly.

The clots often come from the legs or abdominal cavity. Clots can form, especially during long-term immobilization (e.g. due to being bedridden, in a plaster cast, sitting still for a long time in an airplane), but also due to surgical interventions. The first signs are shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Pain, coughing, fever and phlegm with blood do not occur in everyone. Urgent hospitalization is necessary for the treatment of a pulmonary embolism.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024