An embolus (that is, an abnormal particle circulating in the blood) located in the pulmonary artery and thereby blocking blood circulation to the lung. Usually the embolus is a blood clot that has developed in an extremity (for instance, a deep venous thrombosis), detached, and traveled through the circulation before becoming trapped in the pulmonary artery.

Blockage of one or more arteries in the lungs by a blood clot that formed elsewhere, often in the legs. Typically accompanied by sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough.

Blocking of the PULMONARY ARTERY or one of its branches by an EMBOLUS.

The obstruction of blood flow by an embolus within the pulmonary circulation.

The obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by an embolus, sometimes associated with infarction of the lung.

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a sudden blockage in a lung artery. It usually happens when a blood clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. PE is a serious condition that can cause: Permanent damage to the lungs; Low oxygen levels in your blood; Damage to other organs in your body from not getting enough oxygen. PE can be life-threatening, especially if a clot is large, or if there are many clots. The cause is usually a blood clot that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. The clot is usually a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clot in the leg. In rare cases, material such as air bubbles, clumps of fat, or parts of a tumor can block the lung artery and cause PE. Anyone can get a pulmonary embolism (PE), but certain things can raise your risk of PE: Having surgery, especially joint replacement surgery.; Certain medical conditions, including Cancers; Heart diseases; Lung diseases; A broken hip or leg bone or other trauma. Hormone-based medicines, such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.; Pregnancy and childbirth. The risk is highest for about six weeks after childbirth.; Not moving for long periods, such as being on bed rest, having a cast, or taking a long plane flight.; Age. Your risk increases as you get older, especially after age 40.; Family history and genetics. Certain genetic changes that can increase your risk of blood clots and PE.; Obesity. Symptoms of PE include: Shortness of breath; Rapid breathing; Chest pain or discomfort, which usually gets worse when you cough or take a deep breath; Increased heart rate; Coughing up blood; Very low blood pressure, lightheadedness, or fainting. Sometimes people with PE don't have any symptoms until they have serious complications, such as pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries to your lungs). It can be difficult to diagnose PE. To find out if you have a PE, your health care provider will: Take your medical history, including asking about your symptoms and risk factors for PE; Do a physical exam; Likely order some tests, including various imaging and blood tests. If you have PE, you need medical treatment right away. The goal of treatment is to break up clots and help keep other clots from forming. Treatment options include medicines and procedures. Medicines: Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, keep blood clots from getting larger and stop new clots from forming. You might get them as an injection, a pill, or through an I.V. (intravenous). They can cause bleeding, especially if you are taking other medicines that also thin your blood, such as aspirin.; Thrombolytics are medicines to dissolve blood clots. You may get them if you have large clots that cause severe symptoms or other serious complications. Thrombolytics can cause sudden bleeding, so they are used if your PE is serious and may be life-threatening. Procedures: Catheter-assisted thrombus removal uses a flexible tube to reach a blood clot in your lung. Your health care provider can insert a tool in the tube to break up the clot or to deliver medicine through the tube. Usually you will get medicine to put you to sleep for this procedure.; A vena cava filter may be used in some people who cannot take blood thinners. Your health care provider inserts a filter inside a large vein called the vena cava. The filter catches blood clots before they travel to the lungs, which prevents pulmonary embolism. But the filter does not stop new blood clots from forming. Preventing new blood clots can prevent PE. Prevention...

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the occlusion of pulmonary arteries by thrombi that originate elsewhere, typically in the large veins of the legs or pelvis. Risk factors for pulmonary embolism are conditions that impair venous return, conditions that cause endothelial injury or dysfunction, and underlying hypercoagulable states. Symptoms of...

Pulmonary emboli usually arise from thrombi that originate in the deep venous system of the lower extremities; however, they rarely also originate in the pelvic, renal, upper extremity veins, or the right heart chambers (see the image below). After traveling to the lung, large thrombi can lodge at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary...

Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in your lungs. In most cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from deep veins in the legs or, rarely, from veins in other parts of the body (deep vein thrombosis).

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a consequence of thrombus formation in distal veins, most commonly those of the deep venous system of the lower extremities. Thrombus formation in the venous system occurs as a result of venous stasis, trauma, and hypercoagulability. These factors are collectively known as Virchow triad. Approximately 51% of...

Pulmonary embolism, obstruction of a pulmonary artery or one of its branches. The pulmonary arteries carry blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. A pulmonary embolism may be the result of a blood clot that has formed elsewhere, has broken loose, and has traveled through the...