Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is the obstruction of lung blood vessels, usually by a blood clot.
A pulmonary embolism can:
The following can increase the risk of developing blood clots that could cause pulmonary embolism (PE):
If the blood clot is large enough, it may lead to sudden death.
Smaller clots can reduce the blood flow to the lungs and might cause:
The most common symptoms of an acute pulmonary embolism include:
A blood clot may dissolve on its own, but this usually takes a few weeks.
Acute pulmonary embolism treatment includes blood thinners, such as heparin or warfarin, to prevent more blood clots from forming and causing further damage to the heart or the lungs.
Therapy with blood thinners might be for a few months or some might need treatment for the rest of their lives.
To schedule an appointment at the UPMC Comprehensive Pulmonary Hypertension Program, contact us at:
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