Pulmonary Embolism
Original Editor Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka
Top Contributors - Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka, Karen Wilson, Rachael Lowe, Kim Jackson and Lucinda hampton
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Clinically Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]
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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.
Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
Pyrexia
Dyspnea
Pleuritic chest pain
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 (Reed, 1996) and some are even umsymptomatic(Wood and Spiro, 2000)
A test such as D-dimer and Doppler Ultrasound.to for thrombosis as 70% of patients with PE also has DVT (Edmondson, 1994).
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 (CTPA) 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]
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Management / Interventions[edit | edit source]
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Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
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Resources[edit | edit source]
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