Pulmonary Embolism
Original Editor Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka
Top Contributors - Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka, Karen Wilson, Rachael Lowe, Kim Jackson and Lucinda hampton
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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]
- ↑ Goldstein M, Cornil A. Clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.Acta Chir Belg. 1986;86(2):79-83.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 3.0 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.
- ↑ Edmondson, R. The causes and management of pulmonary embolism. Care Crit. Ill. 1194; 10:26-9.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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
