What are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism warning sign?

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

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Written by Liu Jing Jing
Pulmonology
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Is there a relationship between pulmonary embolism and lung cancer?

Pulmonary embolism and lung cancer can be related; common causes of pulmonary embolism include amniotic fluid embolism, air embolism, and deep vein thrombosis. In patients with lung cancer, when cancerous emboli enter the bloodstream, they can cause pulmonary embolism. Additionally, if the patient's condition is poor, with difficulties in eating, prolonged bed rest, and increased blood viscosity, deep vein thrombosis can occur, leading to pulmonary embolism. Therefore, there is no absolute relationship between pulmonary embolism and lung cancer, but lung cancer may trigger pulmonary embolism.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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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.

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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 Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Why should one lie flat for acute pulmonary embolism?

When acute pulmonary embolism occurs, it is primarily due to a thrombus from the venous system being carried by the venous blood flow back to the right heart, and then due to the ejection from the right heart, this thrombus gets lodged in the pulmonary artery, forming a pulmonary embolism. After the onset of pulmonary embolism, the primary treatment measure is to have the patient lie down and remain still. The reason is mainly that if the patient is standing or moving, it is very likely that the thrombus in the venous system could continue to detach and move within the venous system. This can worsen the symptoms of pulmonary embolism or lead to new embolic sites, so the treatment for the patient involves immobilization and lying down to avoid further movement, making this the most basic approach to treatment.

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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.