Is pulmonary embolism related to pneumonia?

Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
Updated on September 05, 2024
00:00
00:00

If unexplained shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia, and decreased oxygen saturation occur, one should be highly vigilant about pulmonary embolism. Generally, pulmonary embolism has no direct relationship with pneumonia. High-risk factors for pulmonary embolism include obesity, prolonged immobilization, stroke, congestive heart failure, malignant tumor, inflammatory bowel disease, lower limb fracture, anesthesia time exceeding 30 minutes, and acquired or genetic hypercoagulable state. It usually manifests as difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, and pleuritic chest pain.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
46sec home-news-image

Pulmonary embolism should be treated in the department of respiratory medicine or cardiology.

Pulmonary embolism is a pathological process in which a blood clot in the vessels detaches, affecting the pulmonary artery and its branches. After the occurrence of a pulmonary embolism, patients generally visit the respiratory medicine department. Clinically, a pulmonary artery CTA can be performed to further confirm the diagnosis. The treatment methods in clinical practice are mainly as follows: If the patient experiences circulatory disturbances, emergency thrombolytic therapy may be considered; if the patient's circulation is stable, treatment with low molecular weight heparin and warfarin anticoagulation can be considered. Of course, it is important to monitor the patient's respiration and blood pressure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
54sec home-news-image

Can pulmonary embolism lead to pneumonia?

Pulmonary embolism itself does not cause pneumonia; however, during the treatment of pulmonary embolism, procedures such as oral tracheal intubation and the creation of an artificial airway might be employed. These can lead to nosocomial infections of iatrogenic origin, resulting in pneumonia. Pulmonary embolism often manifests as unexplained respiratory difficulty, pleuritic pain, tachycardia, and decreased oxygen saturation. Other high-risk factors include being over the age of 40, having a history of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), obesity, prolonged immobilization, stroke, congestive heart failure, malignancy, lower limb fracture, anesthesia time exceeding 30 minutes during surgery, pregnancy and childbirth, use of estrogen, and a hypercoagulable state. These are all potential high-risk factors for pulmonary embolism.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
1min 10sec home-news-image

How to determine if a pulmonary embolism is acute or chronic?

Pulmonary embolism can be distinguished between acute and chronic based on the duration of the patient's illness, symptoms, and supplemental examinations. Typically, patients with acute pulmonary embolism have no prior similar symptoms and suddenly experience severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood. Additionally, through supplemental examinations like blood tests, abdominal ultrasound, and pulmonary artery CT angiography, it is possible to determine whether the thrombus is fresh or old. In contrast, chronic pulmonary embolism often presents with prolonged symptoms. Patients usually do not experience chest pain or cough, and the main issue is chronic breathing difficulty. In severe cases, pulmonary heart disease may occur, and patients may have swelling in the face and limbs. Ultrasound and pulmonary artery CT angiography can reveal the characteristics of the thrombus, which differ from those seen in acute pulmonary embolism. Thus, these examinations can help determine whether the condition is acute or chronic.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
51sec home-news-image

Pulmonary embolism should be treated in the department of respiratory medicine.

Pulmonary embolism is an emergency in clinical settings, with rapid progression and extreme danger, and is generally treated by the department of respiratory medicine. Pulmonary embolism primarily occurs due to dislodged blood clots that block the pulmonary artery and its branches, leading to pulmonary infarction. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism mainly include severe breathing difficulties, chest pain, coughing up blood, and even circulatory disturbances. After a pulmonary embolism occurs, a pulmonary artery CT scan can be used to further confirm the diagnosis. Treatment options may include thrombolysis, and possibly anticoagulation therapy with low molecular weight heparin or warfarin. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
58sec home-news-image

The most common symptoms of pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism is also relatively common in clinical practice, primarily caused by an embolus blocking the pulmonary artery system, leading to a group of clinical syndromes. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism mainly include the following points: The first is that patients may experience unexplained difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, especially after activity. The second is that patients experience significant chest pain. The third may be accompanied by hemoptysis, but usually, the amount of blood expectorated is not large. The fourth is that patients may experience restlessness, panic, and even a sense of impending doom. Clinically, there sometimes appears the so-called triad, which includes simultaneous occurrence of difficulty breathing, chest pain, and hemoptysis, etc. Pulmonary embolism is primarily diagnosed clinically through pulmonary artery CT.