PULMONARY EMBOLISM

Kelly PerdomoSharon Polansky2A 2/6/2012

WHAT IS IT?:PULMONARY EMBOLISM – IS A BLOOD CLOT THAT BLOCKS THE FLOW OF BLOOD THROUGH THE MAIN PULMONARY ARTERY, THE RIGHT OR LEFT PULMONARY ARTERY, OR BRANCHING ARTERIES WITHIN THE LOBES AND SEGMENTS OF THE LUNGS. OCCASIONALLY THE CLOT THAT CAUSES A PULMONARY EMBOLISM ORIGINATES IN THE HEART’S RIGHT ATRIUM.

BUT HAVING BLOOD CLOTS IN DEEP VEINS (DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS) CAN LEAD TO PULMONARY EMBOLISM. DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS OCCURS WHEN A BLOOD CLOT FORMS IN A VEIN DEEP INSIDE A MUSCLE IN YOUR BODY. IT USUALLY HAPPENS IN LEGS, BUT CAN ALSO DEVELOP IN YOUR ARMS, CHEST, OR OTHER AREAS OF YOUR BODY.

WHAT HAPPENS:-ANY LOSS OF FUNCTIONING ALVEOLI SUBSEQUENTLY LIMITS THE ABILITY OF THE LUNGS TO CONVEY OXYGEN TO THE BLOOD.-LARGE CLOTS CAN BLOCK THE PULMONARY ARTERIES AT THE POINT WHERE THE RIGHT AND LEFT PULMONARY ARTERIES DIVERGE (BIFURCATION OF THE PULMONARY ARTERY).

HOW TO PREVENT IT:

-PULMONARY EMBOLISM CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING, BUT IMMEDIATE TREATMENT WITH ANTI-CLOTTING MEDICATIONS CAN GREATLY REDUCE THE RISK OF DEATH. TAKING MEASURES TO PREVENT BLOOD CLOTS IN YOUR LEGS ALSO CAN HELP PROTECT YOU AGAINST PULMONARY EMBOLISM.-ALSO MOVING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER SURGERY CAN HELP PREVENT PULMONARY EMBOLISM AND SPEED YOUR OVERALL RECOVERY. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS YOUR NURSE MAY PUSH YOU TO GET UP AND WALK AS SOON AS ONE DAY AFTER SURGERY.

MEDICINE:-ANTICOAGULANTS- THEY HELP PREVENT NEW CLOTS FROM FORMING.

-CLOT DISSOLVERS (THROMBOLYTICS)- WHILE CLOTS USUALLY DISSOLVE ON THEIR OWN, CERTAIN MEDICATIONS CAN DISSOLVE CLOTS QUICKLY BECAUSE THESE CLOT-BUSTING DRUGS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN AND SEVERE BLEEDING, THEY USUALLY ARE RESERVED FOR LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS.-FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE ANTICOAGULATED , AN INFERIOR VENA CAVA CAN BE PLACED IN ORDER TO PREVENT LIFE-THREATENING PE.

• It’s the 3rd most common death.• 2nd most common cause of unexpected

death in most age groups. • 60% of patients dying in the hospital have

had a PE. • Diagnosis has been missed in about 70% of

the cases.

PROGRESSION OF DISEASE

• Everyone will find their recovery to be unique. Like many disorders and diseases pulmonary embolisms can be of differing severities. There are people who return to work in a few days as well as people who die. It is a huge spectrum.

• Symptoms of the embolism will come and go for a long time after the embolism is found and treatment is initiated. It is not uncommon for someone to go 3 months without any problems and then find themselves with pain or shortness of breath again.

• After a pulmonary embolism the body spends a lot of energy on healing the heart and lungs. This means that you will be more fatigued. You also will get sick easier, stay sick longer, and find that you get more sick feeling when you are sick.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE IN RECOVERY: