Pulmonary Embolism: Difference between revisions

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== Causal Factors ==
== Causal Factors ==
The main cause of PE is thrombosis dislodge and circulating in the blood stream to occlude the pulmonary artery. Blood clot can occur due to serious limb injury, surgery, prolonged bed rest and static lower limb posture for more than  6hours.
* The main cause of PE is thrombosis dislodge and circulating in the blood stream to occlude the pulmonary artery. Blood clot can occur due to serious limb injury, surgery, prolonged bed rest and static lower limb posture for more than  6 hours.
 
* Cancer or cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy could lead to possible thrombosis formation
Cancer or cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy could lead to possible thrombosis formation
* Other factors are overweight and hypercholesterolaemia  as it could lead to fat embolism; pregnancy as there an increase rick of PE  to in the first few weeks postpartum; smoking; some hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
 
* PE can also arise from the right side of the heart
Other factors are overweight and hypercholesterolaemia  as it could lead to fat embolism; pregnancy as there an increase rick of PE  to in the first few weeks postpartum; smoking; some hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
* Non-thrombotic materials such as amniotic fluid, fat, air, bone and organ fragments.
 
PE can also arise from the right side of the heart  
 
Nonthrombotic materials such as amniotic fluid, fat, air, bone and organ fragments.


== Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process  ==
== Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process  ==


The initial cardiorepiratory state and size and number of emboli affects the severity of the of the change in pulmonary blood flow and respiration. a small blockage of the pulmonary artery may not be symptomatic  but a large emboli can lead to several events which are deleterious the the individual. pulmonary embolism causes wasted ventilation as it increases the alveoli dead space thus resulting in ventilation perfusion mismatch. The occlusion can be as a result of other emboli like air bolus  
The initial cardiorepiratory state and size and number of emboli affects the severity of the of the change in pulmonary blood flow and respiration. a small blockage of the pulmonary artery may not be symptomatic  but a large emboli can lead to several events which are deleterious the the individual. pulmonary embolism causes wasted ventilation as it increases the alveoli dead space thus resulting in ventilation perfusion mismatch. The occlusion can be as a result of other emboli like air bolus , fat e.t.c.


<br>
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== Diagnostic Procedures  ==
== Diagnostic Procedures  ==


PE is difficult to diagnose clinically as only few cases show the triad of chest pain, dyspnoea and haemoptysis <ref>
PE is difficult to diagnose clinically as only few cases show the triad of chest pain, dyspnoea and haemoptysis <ref>Goldstein M, Cornil A. Clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.Acta Chir Belg. 1986;86(2):79-83.
Goldstein M, Cornil A. Clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.Acta Chir Belg. 1986;86(2):79-83.
</ref> and some are even umsymptomatic with incidence of 2.6%<ref>Dentali F, Ageno W, Becattini C, Galli L, Gianni M, Riva N et al. Prevalence and clinical history of incidental, asymptomatic pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis.Thromb Res. 2010;125(6):518-22. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2010.03.016. </ref> and upto 71.4% in patient with distal DVT.<ref name=":0">Krutman M, Wolosker N, Kuzniec S, de Campos Guerra JC, Tachibana A, de Almeida Mendes C. Risk of asymptomatic pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2013;1(4):370-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2013.04.002.  
</ref> and some are even umsymptomatic with incidence of 2.6%<ref>Dentali F, Ageno W, Becattini C, Galli L, Gianni M, Riva N et al. Prevalence and clinical history of incidental, asymptomatic pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis.Thromb Res. 2010;125(6):518-22. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2010.03.016. </ref> and upto 71.4% in patient with distal DVT.<ref name=":0">Krutman M, Wolosker N, Kuzniec S, de Campos Guerra JC, Tachibana A, de Almeida Mendes C. Risk of asymptomatic pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2013;1(4):370-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2013.04.002.  
</ref>
</ref>
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== Outcome Measures  ==
== Outcome Measures  ==


add links to outcome measures here (see [[Outcome Measures|Outcome Measures Database]])  
Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS) <ref name=":1">Essers BA, Prins MH. Methods to measure treatment satisfaction in patients with pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2010;16(5):437-41.
</ref><ref>Samsa G, Matchar DB, Dolor RJ, Wiklund I.  Hedner E, Wygant G et al. A new instrument for measuring anticoagulation-related quality of life: development and preliminary validation. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2004; 2: 22. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-2-22
</ref>
 
Perception of Anticoagulation Treatment Questionnaire (PACT-Q).<ref name=":1" />


== Management / Interventions  ==
== Management / Interventions  ==

Revision as of 10:23, 18 April 2019

This article or area is currently under construction and may only be partially complete. Please come back soon to see the finished work! (18/04/2019)

Introduction[edit | edit source]

add text here relating to clinically relevant anatomy of the condition

Causal Factors[edit | edit source]

  • The main cause of PE is thrombosis dislodge and circulating in the blood stream to occlude the pulmonary artery. Blood clot can occur due to serious limb injury, surgery, prolonged bed rest and static lower limb posture for more than 6 hours.
  • Cancer or cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy could lead to possible thrombosis formation
  • Other factors are overweight and hypercholesterolaemia as it could lead to fat embolism; pregnancy as there an increase rick of PE to in the first few weeks postpartum; smoking; some hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
  • PE can also arise from the right side of the heart
  • Non-thrombotic materials such as amniotic fluid, fat, air, bone and organ fragments.

Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process[edit | edit source]

The initial cardiorepiratory state and size and number of emboli affects the severity of the of the change in pulmonary blood flow and respiration. a small blockage of the pulmonary artery may not be symptomatic but a large emboli can lead to several events which are deleterious the the individual. pulmonary embolism causes wasted ventilation as it increases the alveoli dead space thus resulting in ventilation perfusion mismatch. The occlusion can be as a result of other emboli like air bolus , fat e.t.c.


Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

Pyrexia

Dyspnea and/or Tachypnea

Crackle lung sound on chest auscultation

Prounced second heart sound

Pleuritic chest pain

Profuse sweating

Cough with hemoptysis

Tachycardia with rapid feeble pulse, arrhythmia

Hypotension, lightheadedness, dizziness (occasionally induced

by exercise only)

Syncope

Cyanosis

Diagnostic Procedures[edit | edit source]

PE is difficult to diagnose clinically as only few cases show the triad of chest pain, dyspnoea and haemoptysis [1] and some are even umsymptomatic with incidence of 2.6%[2] and upto 71.4% in patient with distal DVT.[3]

A test such as D-dimer and Doppler Ultrasound.to for thrombosis as more than 70% of patients with PE also has DVT[4][3]

Chest X-ray may show a small pleural effusion or a peripheral wedge-shaped shadow indicating infarcted lung.

Ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan and 50% accurate

Pulmonary angiography

Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) which is a spiral CT with intravenous contrast medium is the best diagnostic tool as it is 90% conclusive.

MRI is another option used if there fear of harm from other procedures especially in pregnant women.

Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]

Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS) [5][6]

Perception of Anticoagulation Treatment Questionnaire (PACT-Q).[5]

Management / Interventions[edit | edit source]

add text here relating to management approaches to the condition

Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

add text here relating to the differential diagnosis of this condition

Resources[edit | edit source]

add appropriate resources here

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Goldstein M, Cornil A. Clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.Acta Chir Belg. 1986;86(2):79-83.
  2. Dentali F, Ageno W, Becattini C, Galli L, Gianni M, Riva N et al. Prevalence and clinical history of incidental, asymptomatic pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis.Thromb Res. 2010;125(6):518-22. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2010.03.016.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Krutman M, Wolosker N, Kuzniec S, de Campos Guerra JC, Tachibana A, de Almeida Mendes C. Risk of asymptomatic pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2013;1(4):370-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2013.04.002.
  4. Edmondson, R. The causes and management of pulmonary embolism. Care Crit. Ill. 1194; 10:26-9.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Essers BA, Prins MH. Methods to measure treatment satisfaction in patients with pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2010;16(5):437-41.
  6. Samsa G, Matchar DB, Dolor RJ, Wiklund I. Hedner E, Wygant G et al. A new instrument for measuring anticoagulation-related quality of life: development and preliminary validation. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2004; 2: 22. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-2-22