Pulmonary embolism (PE) is blockage of a blood vessel or blood vessels in the lung. In most cases the blockage is caused by a blood clot that has moved from another part of the body, usually the leg. More rarely, PE is caused by another substance in a blood vessel of the lung. PE is a medical emergency, and it can be fatal. It can cause heart failure or cardiac arrest. Immediate treatment can be life-saving, and can reduce or prevent life-long complications.
Pulmonary Embolism: Causes
The most common cause of PE is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot in leg, that breaks away and travels to the lung. Blood clots elsewhere in the body can also break off and move to the lungs. PE can be caused by substances other than blood clots including:
- Fat from the marrow of a broken long bone
- Part of a tumor that has broken off
- Collagen or other tissue
- Amniotic fluid
- Part of a tumor
- Large air bubble
- Foreign material introduced in an impure injection
Pulmonary Embolism: Symptoms
Pulmonary embolism can occur with no symptoms. Common symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath, often occurring suddenly and getting worse with exertion
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Coughing up blood
- Rapid heart rate
- Mild fever
- Excessive sweating
- Feeling faint, dizzy or lightheaded
- Clammy skin
- Discolored skin
- Collapse
- Leg pain and/or swelling due to DVT
If you suspect PE, seek immediate medical attention. Massive PE can cause the heart to stop pumping, which can be fatal.
