Pulmonary Embolus

Pulmonary embolus is a blockage in the artery in your lungs caused by fat, air, tumor tissue, or a blood clot.

Causes:

There are several possible causes of a pulmonary embolus such as:

• Clots from one of your veins: like one from a DVT in one of your legs (most common cause)
• Tumors that are in your circulatory system
• Amniotic fluid (fluid around a developing fetus)
• Air
• Fat
• Bone marrow

Some risk factors include:

• Being in bed for a long time or extended inactivity (days, weeks)
• Having surgery
• Having a baby
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Heart surgery
• Broken hip or femur (upper leg)

Prevention:

• Finding a clot in your leg and having it treated early will help to stop the clot from traveling to your lung
• Early walking and activity after you have surgery
• Leg exercises and support stockings
• For people who must be on bedrest for a long time the doctor may decide to give you heparin (medication to help thin your blood)

Treatment:

• Emergency treatment and admission to hospital is necessary.
• The doctor may give you medications to dissolve the clot(s).
• Medication to help prevent more clots from forming will be given.
• You will need oxygen to keep the oxygen level up in your blood.