A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when an artery in the lungs becomes blocked. The blockage is usually caused by a blood clot that travels to the lungs from the legs, which is a result of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
The pulmonary embolus blocks blood flow to part or all of the lung, and can often be life-threatening. Occlusion of blood vessels of the lungs can lead to increased blood pressure in the lungs called pulmonary hypertension, and can result in heart failure. Pulmonary emboli can also decrease the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Pulmonary emboli can be life-threatening and should be treated immediately. If untreated, PE can be deadly.
A physical exam showing the above symptoms may help your healthcare provider diagnose PE, especially you have deep vein thrombosis, but the following tests may also be used:
Other tests may also be performed to test for related conditions or complications. Some of these tests include but are not limited to:
For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our IR physicians, please call 310-481-7545.
