Pulmonary Embolism: Overcoming Danger with Immediate Care

Pulmonary embolism is a dangerous medical event which occurs when a potentially fatal blood clot travels up to the lung. This condition requires immediate care. Still, many don’t know what it is or understand when they’re at risk.

What is Pulmonary Embolism?

A pulmonary embolism is a potentially fatal blood clot that forms in the lungs. A pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition which occurs when a blood clot travels through the heart to the lung. It requires immediate medical therapy with blood thinners and potentially a minimally invasive procedure to extract the clot.

These clots are common cardiovascular events, affecting around 900,000 patients every year, but thanks to faster diagnosis and innovative treatments, fewer patients are experiencing severe complications. Most of the time, these clots start in your legs with a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which is a clot in the leg.

Symptoms of DVT include leg swelling, pain, discomfort and tenderness. These DVTs can migrate to the lungs, causing symptoms.

While this condition is extremely dangerous if left untreated, prompt diagnosis and treatment can be lifesaving. At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, we offer advanced minimally invasive procedures to remove the lung clots and have a great multidisciplinary team approach to optimize outcomes.

Pulmonary Embolism Symptoms

Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, fainting, leg, and can be accompanied by leg pain or swelling.

Pulmonary embolism may also cause symptoms like:

• Clammy, blueish skin, nails or lips
• Cough that may contain blood
• Leg pain or swelling
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sweating

If you experience these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. Your care team can confirm or rule out a pulmonary embolism diagnosis with a physical exam, blood tests and imaging tests like CT angiography scans.

Symptoms of pulmonary embolism can happen quickly or take days — and sometimes even months — to develop. It’s important to listen to your body and seek care if something doesn’t feel right.

Who is at Risk for Pulmonary Embolism?

You may be at a higher risk for pulmonary embolism if you’ve experienced:

• Long periods of inactivity such as bed rest, long flights or road trips
• Personal or family history of blood clots
• Medical conditions like heart disease or cancer
• Recent surgery
• Recent diagnosis of a DVT

You may also be at higher risk of this condition if you’re pregnant, overweight or have a history of smoking.

Pulmonary Embolism Treatment

Fortunately, pulmonary embolisms are very treatable once diagnosed. Your treatment may vary depending on the size and location of your blood clot, but may include:

• Anticoagulants, medicines used to thin your blood and prevent new clots from forming
• Thrombolytics, or medications used to dissolve blood clots
• Surgical removal, performed using minimally invasive techniques, for large or more severe clots

At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, our multidisciplinary care team works with you to find the most impactful treatment to treat your pulmonary embolism and prevent future clots. This condition can be lethal, and if you have any symptoms that are concerning, you should talk to your doctor or visit the emergency room for evaluation by our exper