What are the precursors of pulmonary embolism?

Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
Updated on September 21, 2024
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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.

Other Voices

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Is it good to place a filter for pulmonary embolism or not?

Whether it is good or not to place a filter for pulmonary embolism mainly depends on the cause of the pulmonary embolism and whether there are indications for placing a filter. Generally speaking, if pulmonary embolism is caused by the formation of blood clots in the lower limbs or the inferior vena cava, placing a filter can generally be beneficial. However, not all cases of lower limb venous thrombosis require a filter. Filters are usually only used for deep or large vein thromboses that are not suitable for thrombectomy or thrombolysis treatments. If a filter is placed under other conditions, it is very likely that thrombosis will re-form on the surface of the filter, potentially leading to some recurrent pulmonary embolisms or iatrogenic pulmonary embolisms. Therefore, the decision to place a filter is complex and requires a doctor to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to proceed.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Pulmonary embolism means

The formation of thrombotic foreign bodies in the human venous system or the right atrium and ventricle system, ultimately leading to the blockage in the pulmonary artery, is referred to as pulmonary embolism. After the onset of pulmonary embolism, patients may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, and even coughing up blood. It is crucial to immediately conduct a pulmonary artery CTA scan for further diagnosis. If the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is confirmed, thrombolytic or interventional treatments can be considered.

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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Can a pulmonary embolism cold cause a fever?

Pulmonary embolism combined with a cold can indeed cause a fever, which is a relatively common occurrence. However, it typically results in a low-grade fever. Additionally, it is important to note that if pulmonary embolism is combined with pulmonary infarction, it can also lead to a fever, usually manifesting as a low-grade fever. Therefore, pulmonary embolism itself can potentially cause a fever. Furthermore, it is crucial to be aware that if pulmonary embolism leads to a fever, it should not be misdiagnosed as a common cold or pneumonia. Especially in patients with concurrent pulmonary infarction, the presence of a fever, and subpleural patchy shadows seen on chest CT can resemble the manifestations of pneumonia. Care must be taken to avoid misdiagnosis as pneumonia, which could delay treatment for the patient and potentially lead to severe consequences.

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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Can pulmonary embolism cause bloating and abdominal distension?

Pulmonary embolism can, in rare cases, cause bloating and abdominal distension. The primary clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism are chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Severe pulmonary embolism can also lead to a drop in blood pressure and sometimes may even cause the patient to faint. However, it is important to note that in severe cases of pulmonary embolism, patients may also experience abdominal distension. Patients with pulmonary embolism might also have acute pulmonary heart disease, which could include symptoms of gastrointestinal congestion. In such cases, patients may experience abdominal bloating. Additionally, there is a special condition known as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, where patients may experience chronic pulmonary heart disease and chronic hypoxia, which can also lead to abdominal distension.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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What should I do if I have pulmonary embolism and asthma?

Pulmonary embolism is a very common type of disease clinically, and its triggering factors are numerous and complex. For such patients, the main triggering factors are usually the detachment of thrombi from the pelvic deep veins and the lower limb deep veins, leading to pulmonary artery embolism. Therefore, the clinical symptoms that appear in these patients are mainly difficulty breathing, chest tightness, chest pain, and some patients may experience coughing, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and even wheezing. Thus, for such patients, it is first necessary to clarify the cause of the disease, and then provide the patient with oxygen, thrombolysis, anticoagulation, and other symptomatic treatments. Usually, after effective symptomatic treatment, when the embolism location is effectively controlled, the symptoms of wheezing and air blockage that the patient experiences will also be significantly improved.