pulmonary embolism

(noun)

A blockage of the blood supply the lungs by a blood clot.

Related Terms

Examples of pulmonary embolism in the following topics:

  • Anticoagulants

    • A group of pharmaceuticals called anticoagulants can be used in vivo as a medication for thrombotic (clotting) disorders including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
    • These anticoagulants are used to treat patients with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), atrial fibrillation (AF), and mechanical prosthetic heart valves.

  • Blood Supply to the Lungs

    • Pulmonary circulation refers to blood supply to the lungs for the purpose of gas exchange.
    • The right side of the heart deals with pulmonary circulation.
    • After blood fills in the right ventricle, it contracts and pumps the blood through the pulmonary valve, and into the pulmonary arteries.
    • The most serious issue in pulmonary circulation is a pulmonary embolism, which is where a blood clot travels to the lung and causes an infarction of the lung (tissue death from lack of oxygen).
    • Diagram of pulmonary circulation.

  • Fibrinolysis

    • Fibrinolysis is a process that removes clots following hemostasis and clot retraction, preventing uncontrolled thrombosis and embolism.
    • If blood clots embolize to different parts of the body, they can cause tissue death by blocking off blood flow to those tissues.
    • This is a common cause of heart attacks, pulmonary embolism, and strokes.

  • Breathing Patterns

    • It is a common symptom of anxiety attacks, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks, and emphysema, among other things.

  • Platelet Formation

    • These include stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or infarction of other tissues.

  • Platelets

    • However, if the number of platelets is too high, blood clots can form (thrombosis), which may obstruct blood vessels and result in ischemic tissue damage caused by a stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or the blockage of blood vessels to other parts of the body.

  • Cerebrovascular Accident

    • This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood flow) caused by blockage (thrombosis, arterial embolism), or a hemorrhage (leakage of blood).
    • A thrombus itself (even if non-occluding) can lead to an embolic stroke if the thrombus breaks off, at which point it is called an "embolus. " Two types of thrombosis can cause stroke: large vessel disease involves the common and internal carotids, vertebral, and the Circle of Willis.
    • An embolic stroke refers to the blockage of an artery by an arterial embolus, a travelling particle or debris in the arterial bloodstream originating from elsewhere.
    • It is most commonly due to cardiac pump failure from cardiac arrest or arrhythmias, or from reduced cardiac output as a result of myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pericardial effusion, or bleeding.

  • Pressure Changes During Pulmonary Ventilation

    • Breathing through a snorkeling tube and having a pulmonary embolism both increase the amount of dead space volume (through anatomical versus alveolar dead space respectively), which will reduce alveolar ventilation.
    • Under normal conditions, PAO2 is about 100 mmHg, while PaO2 is 80–100 mmHg in systemic arteries, but 40–50 mmHg in the deoxygenated blood of the pulmonary artery going to the lungs.
    • Conversely, PACO2 is 35 mmHg, while PaCO2 is about 40–45 mmHG in systemic arteries and 50 mmHg in the pulmonary artery.
    • Differentiate among the types of pulmonary ventilation: minute, alveolar, dead space

  • Coagulation

    • An embolism is any thrombosis (blood clot)  that breaks off without being dissolved and travels through the bloodstream to another site.
    • If it obstructs an artery that supplies blood to a tissue or organ, it can cause ischemia and infarcation to those tissues, leading to a pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack).
    • Additionally, endothelial damage caused by immune system factors like inflammation or hypersensitivity may also cause unnecessary thrombosis and embolism.

  • Aging and the Cardiovascular System

    • Still others may not be associated with any symptoms at all, but may predispose the patient to a potentially life-threatening stroke or embolism.
    • In the elderly, ventricular diastolic stiffness can lead to pulmonary circulatory congestion.
    • These elevated pressures are transmitted to the pulmonary vasculature and lead to pulmonary edema.