Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary Embolism

Introduction

The blood clot occurrence in lungs is called as Pulmonary Embolism (PE). Smaller vessels of heart, arms, pelvis, and legs are the most known places of the clot (Davis, and Schiffman, 2012). Sometimes the clot becomes larger. This large clot is formed in the larger veins of legs and arms and is known as DVT or deep venous thrombosis. When this deep venous thrombosis travels through the blood via veins after breaking in smaller parts these small parts get stuck in the lungs. After reaching the lungs, these smaller parts then travel from large veins to smaller vessels until they can go no further. The vessels become too small to allow them to go forward. This results in all or some of the blood supply to be cut off in the affected part of lungs. The disruption of blood flow results in the areas of lung which then cannot be used to oxidize the blood. The air sacs become inaccessible in these areas and the ventilation of the blood is blocked in these areas. As the blood is obstructed in particular areas of the lungs, the balance between blood flow and ventilation is disrupted causing the ventilation-perfusion disparity. The lungs air sacs receive air but are enable to ventilate the deoxidization of the blood. In this paper we will explore the causes of the Pulmonary Embolism, its symptoms, the treatment of PE and prognosis.

Discussion

Pulmonary Embolism Causes

More than a few risk factors can cause an individual more probably to build up a blood clot which can ultimately disintegrate and pass through to the lung . The reasons for the creation of these clots are explained by Virchow's tritad. These triad comprises of 1) immobilization (it causes in the reduction of flow), 2) damaged vessel wall (it provides the hinge for the clot to hang to get stuck start build up, and 3) Hypercoagulable state (the conditions which causes blood clots in the first place).

Immobilization: A severe injury which makes a person immobile and bed confinement can lead up to the formation of the clots in the arms and legs.

Travel: The extended traveling, for example car trips and air traveling causes the blood to remain idles in legs which then results in the increase chances of blood clots.

Current surgeries (including hypercoagulable) make the body in the healing state because of the surgical damage. This also makes up the reasons for immobility and vessel damage. Following issues can cause the clots:

Injury or Trauma or (particularly leg injuries)

Obesity

Disease of Heart (for example heartbeat irregularity)

Burns Trauma

Prior history of pulmonary embolism or (DVTs) blood clot in the legs

There are certain conditions which enhance the chances of clotting of the blood, some are as follows:

Oral contraceptives and Estrogen therapy

Cancer

Pregnancy

Certain Enzyme and protein deficiencies

Figure 1: Blood Clot, (Davis, and Schiffman, 2012)

Pulmonary Embolism Symptoms

All of the pulmonary embolisms don't show the similar symptoms and signs but particular symptoms may signify the occurrence of a pulmonary ...