The most common symptoms of pulmonary embolism.

Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
Updated on September 29, 2024
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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.

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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How is pulmonary embolism caused in young people?

Common causes of pulmonary embolism in young people include the following aspects: First, fractures, especially fractures of the lower limbs, are prone to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; Second, thrombophilia, some young people due to congenital genetic factors, which can lead to easy formation of blood clots in arteries or veins, and potentially increase the incidence of pulmonary embolism; Third, prolonged immobilization, such as long periods of sitting, can lead to slow blood flow in the lower limbs, which might result in deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; Fourth, other factors like severe infections could also trigger pulmonary embolism; furthermore, the risk of pulmonary embolism is also higher in pregnant women during the perinatal period.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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Pulmonary Embolism Interventional Treatment Methods

Interventional treatment for pulmonary embolism is mainly used for large pulmonary embolisms in the main trunk or major branches of the pulmonary artery. It is applicable in the following scenarios: contraindications to thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy, inefficacy after thrombolysis or aggressive medical treatment, or lack of surgical conditions. Interventional therapy for pulmonary embolism can involve removing the embolus or breaking it into fragments, allowing it to move to the distal pulmonary arteries, thereby opening the central pulmonary arteries, rapidly reducing pulmonary artery resistance, significantly increasing total pulmonary blood flow, improving cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, and right ventricular function. The treatment involves catheter fragmentation and suction of large clots in the pulmonary artery or performing balloon angioplasty, and it also enables local administration of small-dose thrombolysis. These are the primary methods of interventional treatment for pulmonary embolism.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Why can't patients with pulmonary embolism get out of bed?

Pulmonary embolism is a relatively common clinical disease, with many and complex inducing factors. The most common cause of pulmonary embolism in patients is due primarily to thrombi dislodging from the veins of the lower limbs or the pelvic deep veins, traveling through the bloodstream to the pulmonary arteries, thus causing the disease. Therefore, bed rest is essential during the acute phase of pulmonary embolism. The purpose of bed rest is to prevent further embolisms, to avoid the dislodging of pelvic or lower limb deep vein thrombi, which could lead to the formation of new thrombi. Therefore, for patients with pulmonary embolism, it is crucial to provide timely treatments such as thrombolysis to control the clinical symptoms caused by the pulmonary embolism effectively.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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The difference between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary edema

The difference between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary edema lies in their mechanisms of onset, clinical manifestations, and treatments; they are completely different diseases. Pulmonary embolism primarily occurs when thrombi from the inferior vena cava or superior vena cava, or other emboli, travel with the bloodstream to the right heart and then block the pulmonary artery. The symptoms mainly include coughing, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood. On the other hand, pulmonary edema is mostly due to left heart dysfunction, caused by coronary artery disease or acute heart failure, leading to the inability of the pulmonary blood to return to the left heart. This results in an excessive retention of blood in the lungs, causing edema in the alveoli and interstitial space of the lungs. The symptoms are primarily characterized by difficulty breathing, coughing, and pink frothy sputum. The treatments for the two are also entirely different: pulmonary embolism is primarily treated with thrombolysis, while pulmonary edema is mainly treated by correcting heart function. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate between these two diseases.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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What are the early symptoms of pulmonary embolism?

The early symptoms of pulmonary embolism are clinically diverse and often non-specific. Mild cases may not present any symptoms at all. Common symptoms include the following: 1. Unexplained difficulty in breathing; 2. Pain in the precordial region; 3. Some patients initially present with fainting as the first clinical symptom; 4. Some patients may also experience irritability, fear, or a near-death feeling; 5. Early symptoms can also include coughing, coughing up blood, and palpitations. Pulmonary embolism is a critical condition in clinical settings. Once it occurs, it is essential to go to the hospital promptly for an accurate diagnosis and to receive effective treatment to avoid severe clinical consequences.