Pulmonary embolism is caused by what?

Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
Updated on September 09, 2024
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The most common cause of pulmonary embolism is a thrombus, with approximately 70%-95% of cases occurring when a deep vein thrombosis dislodges and enters the pulmonary arteries and their branches via the bloodstream, leading to pulmonary embolism. Conditions such as prolonged bed rest or immobilization of the lower limbs can lead to the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis. Therefore, the primary site of origin is mainly the deep veins of the lower limbs. Additionally, other types of emboli can also cause pulmonary embolism, such as fat emboli, air emboli, amniotic fluid emboli, parasitic emboli, and bacterial emboli, as well as detachment of cardiac tumors; all these can lead to pulmonary embolism.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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What are the precursors of pulmonary embolism?

Pulmonary embolism is also relatively common in clinical practice. Its precursors may include varying degrees of respiratory difficulty, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, among others. If such symptoms occur, medical attention should be sought promptly, primarily to rule out the possibility of acute myocardial infarction. Pulmonary artery CTA can further confirm whether there is a pulmonary embolism. In cases of extensive pulmonary embolism, there is a high risk of sudden death, and aggressive thrombolytic and anticoagulation treatments should be administered. If the patient's chest tightness and shortness of breath are relieved after the aforementioned treatments, hospitalization for observation and treatment is still necessary.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Will acute pulmonary embolism get better in two days?

Acute pulmonary embolism is a type of disease with very many and complex inducing factors. Clinically, acute pulmonary embolism has a very sudden onset, and patients often present with unexplained symptoms such as pale complexion, chest tightness, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. During the acute phase of pulmonary embolism, immediate and effective anti-shock and other symptomatic resuscitation are essential upon arrival at the hospital. Generally, after timely and effective resuscitation, the patient's condition may be somewhat controlled. Usually, the first 1-3 days after the onset of pulmonary embolism are the most dangerous; therefore, continuous monitoring of the patient's vital signs is crucial during this time, followed by anti-shock and anticoagulation treatment as needed. Therefore, acute pulmonary embolism will not improve by the second day, although some of the patient's clinical symptoms may slightly improve after treatment.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Is there a lot of phlegm in pulmonary embolism?

Pulmonary embolism is a relatively common acute disease in clinical practice. It usually occurs when blood clots from the veins in the legs or pelvis detach, travel through the bloodstream to the pulmonary arteries, and cause an embolism. The onset of this disease is often very sudden. Due to different triggers, the clinical symptoms vary. Typical symptoms of pulmonary embolism include difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing up blood, and coughing. Coughs are often dry, and patients may also have a small amount of white sputum. Some patients might even experience wheezing and other clinical symptoms. Therefore, the occurrence of excessive sputum is rare in patients with pulmonary embolism.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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What are the symptoms when pulmonary embolism becomes severe?

Pulmonary embolism can vary in severity, with serious cases primarily causing unstable vital signs. The disease primarily arises from venous thrombi in the venous system, which travel with the venous blood back to the right heart, and then with the blood flow from the right heart back to the aorta. If the thrombus is relatively large, it can easily become lodged in the pulmonary artery, forming a pulmonary embolism. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism can range from mild to severe. Based on the patient's symptoms and vital signs, pulmonary embolism is categorized into low risk, intermediate risk, and high risk. Low and intermediate risk typically indicate that the patient's vital signs are relatively stable, with normal blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse oximetry saturation. In severe cases, patients may exhibit noticeable symptoms such as coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, shock, and oliguria. These represent the more severe cases of pulmonary embolism.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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What are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism warning sign?

Pulmonary embolism is also very common in clinical settings, mainly seen in patients who have been bedridden for a long time, undergone various major surgeries, suffered from long bone fractures, pregnancy, etc. In the early stages of pulmonary embolism, patients generally experience varying degrees of chest pain, hemoptysis, and difficulty breathing, among others. If pulmonary embolism is suspected and the patient's condition permits, a pulmonary artery CTA scan should be immediately carried out to further confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. If the pulmonary embolism has already caused circulatory disturbances, thrombolytic therapy should then be considered.