Pulmonary Embolism

Question: pulmonary embolism? do you know occlusion of the main branch of the pulmonary artery in pulmonary may cause sudden death? I mean total occlusion?

Answer: Yes, a saddle embolism or complete occlusion of even a single main pulmonary branch can can cor pulmonale and lead to death quite rapidly, often too quickly for us to do mechanical thrombectomy in the VIR suite. It's very disconcerting to watch such a patient die despite your best efforts to break up the clot.

Question: Is chest pain common after pulmonary embolism? I am 32 and was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism in both lungs 2 months ago. The pain in my chest went away for about a month but now is returning and very gradually increasing. The pain is only on the left side. I am not yet having trouble breathing, but if it gets much worse I will. I am somewhat nervous about this since the pain was extreme before. I hope I am not having another episode. Is this a common or something I should be concerned about?

Answer: You should go to the emergency room right away. Don't wait another minute, as this could be very serious; life threatening.

Question: How long after the initial symptoms would a pulmonary embolism cause serious problems? I am doing an essay on 'sudden death' (cheerful, eh?) and am looking for info on pulmonary embolisms / infarction Could anyone tell me how long after initial symptoms (pleuritic chest pain / cough etc) someone wouyld expect to go before hospitalisation is required ? Do PEs come on over time or are they sudden ???

Answer: A Pulmonary Embolism would cause immediate problems. Depending on the type of emboli. How about this: At 2:01 pm a person throws a PE to the lung: 2:02 1. Short of Breath 2. O2 Saturation Drops 3. Unable to get oxygen into the system 4. Hypoxiema 5. Tachycardia 6. Someone had better dial 911 or this person is going to be shaking hands with St. Peter. Time 2:10 7. Cardiac Arrest All right sometimes it is not that dramatic. But on Sunday, I had a patient do just that. Lucky for us he was already on life support and we were able to treat. So sometimes it does go that fast and sometimes it depends on just a lot of other things like: Is the person previously healthy with no lung disease? Then they have a better chance than someone who has extensive lung disease. What is the person's age? Why did they throw the PE? All of these things come into play.

Question: How long would it take for a 71 year old male to recover from pulmonary embolism? My dad had multiple large pulmonary embolisms about a month ago and almost did not make it. I was just wondering about how long the recovery process is for this. Such as shortness of breath, tired, ect.

Answer: It can take up to 6 weeks for him to feel as if his energy level is coming back. His doctor will give him an idea as to his activity level that he should be doing or can do and he needs to listen closely to his doctor.

Question: Is there anybody else out there dealing with Protein S, Pulmonary Embolism, How do you deal? I ahve Protein S and Prothrombin gene mutation 20210A is there anybody out there like me? I have had a pulmonary embolism and superficial clotting. I am on coumadin. What do I have to look forward to?

Answer: Below is a good support for you to join that have many other people that have the same clotting disorders that you have. You really aren't alone. Really, if you keep your INR in range you should be fine. Have your family members tested for these though as they are genetic. I have Lupus, APS, Lp(a) and MTHFR.

Question: Birth control pills after pulmonary embolism? Have you tried using birth control after a pulmonary embolism? Or any other forms of birth control?

Answer: Do you know what caused the pulmonary embolism? The correct answer may depend on that and your own personal risk factors. But generally, birth control pills are not recommended for someone who is at risk for developing blood clots. The estrogen in birth control can increase clotting factors in your blood, especially if you smoke, are overweight, have a sedentary lifestyle, or have a condition that predisposes you to blood clots. The same would go for any other estrogen-containing birth control. Condoms and diaphragms of course are safe, but not sure about other types of birth control.

Question: Am I high risk for getting another pulmonary embolism after I get my tubes tied? 2 weeks after I had my daughter I landed in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism, drs have since told me I should not have any more kids as I am high risk. I am now wanting to get my tubes tied since I have been taken off the blood thinners. Would I be considered "high risk" following the surgery? I am undecided now on whether to get my tubes tied or not. Any advice is greatly appreciated

Answer: After child birth or any surgery or immobility you are at increased risk of pulmonary emboli. If you are on blood thinners, they would need to be stopped prior to surgery (otherwise you would bleed too much). This increases your risk, as does the actual surgery in which clots can form and subsequently lodge in your lungs. Immobility following surgery can lead to increased formation of deep venous thrombosis (clots) in the legs and hips that can go on to lodge in the lungs also. Once you stop taking the blood thinners (i know some countries give them for life but where I live (UK) its generally 3-6 months) go to a doctor and discuss your options. I'm sure that whilst you take warfarin you are not allowed to have an elective surgery - emergency surgery is a different case - anyway going off topic. I would recommend talking to your family doctor for more information; hope this gives you a rough guide. As someone asid above oral contraception is not an option as it increases the formation of clots (makes your blood sticky).

Question: can you get a pulmonary embolism 2 times? I am 35 years old and last year I had a pulmonary embolism. I did not have surgery prior to. the drs. still don't know what caused it. Before it happened I do remember my legs feeling tired and charlie horse like feelings. maybe a dvt. but isn't that odd for a 35 year old?

Answer: Yes. The symtoms you feel on you legs are probably called claudication. Yes, DVT is a possibility but what is causing your DVT's if you have it. Is there something causing you blood to be more viscous than normal like an autoimmune disease. Do you have varicose veins on your legs. Might want to get a vascular ultrasound of blood vessels of your legs. IF it is DVT, some preventive measures are taking of medication that will make you blood less viscous (pls. ask your doctor), wearing support or anti-DVT stockings and maybe considering having an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placed to prevent blood clots from going into you lungs again.

Question: I have a pulmonary embolism and i just found out today that i am pregnant? i am horrified im so scared i don't know what to do with myself. i keep hearing these stories about infant mortality and death after childbirth. im scared shitless! is there anything anyone can tell me about having a pulmonary embolism and being pregnant? 1st trimester

Answer: I had a pulmonary embolism in my 8th week of pregnancy back in May. I was very scared. I was transferred to a wonderful high risk OB doctor who put me on 100 mg of Lovenox 2x daily. Contact your OB Dr. RIGHT AWAY and let them know what is going on. Lovenox is an injection safe for the baby. If you are on Coumadin, that can be very dangerous to the baby. After the birth of my first daughter last June, I had a DVT in my leg. I was on coumadin for 6 months. My first month off of it I got pregnant (this past March). WHen I had the Pulmonary Embolism, they were not sure where the clot came from. My legs were free from clots.They gave me a CT scan and that determined the clot in my lung. The OB Dr. did blood work to find out if there was a reason for my blood clots, and I have a blood clotting disorder called MTHFR. You will probably be sent to see a hematologist for testing also. With the exception of the PE, I had a normal pregnancy, no other problems. The Dr. believes that the clots are a result of me being pregnant, the MTHFR, and my size. Now that I am delivered I am taking 10mg of Coumadin for the next 6 months. I was on the Lovenox for my entire pregnancy. When I was 35 weeks i had an amniocentesis to see if the baby was developed enough to be delivered. I had low fluid levels, so I was C-sectioned (I was a previous c-section). My baby is 7 weeks old, healthy and beautiful. The high risk OB Dr. monitored me closely. They took good care of me and they will take good care of you too. Please call your OB asap, so you can be put on the right medications, if you are not already. Good luck to you, and you can feel free to ask me any questions.

Question: Pulmonary Embolism: What are the chances of a good outcome? I've been a rather pessimistic person all my life, but for the past few years I have been the total opposite, and have been very optimistic. This morning, I went to the doctors office with my grandmother where they said she would be fine, they caught whatever illness early. Then within 3 hours, I receive a call - she's in the ER and this minor illness turned out to be a blood clot in her lung. Later, we receive another call that made it sound like things weren't getting any better. I am relying that those taking care of her will do all they can manage to do, I trust their skill and education with my grandmother - but I do not want to ignore the likelihood of the situation - what are the chances of a good outcome of Pulmonary Embolism? I've already been doing research since we learned what the issue was, and learned that it is the third greatest killer of hospitalized patients, which did not make me feel any better, but I have accepted it. Thank you for any help and information you can provide me.

Answer: Hello there, I am sorry to hear about your grandma. This can be a very life threatening illness, but if caught in time, then should be treated, they will need to give her injections and treatments for a few months to thin the blood hence breaking down the blood clot. I know how your Grandma feels right now, I have been in hospital with suspected PE before. If it helps, I work in the hospital and have heard of a fair few patients who have suffered with a PE before, yet survived, some of these patients have even had a PE twice! Good luck make sure you visit her as much as you can. That was all I wanted when I was in hospital. My family to make me feel safer.

Question: Why can't pulmonary embolism patient take aspirin or any ibuprofen drugs? I believe aspirin is an anticoagulant. I thought the problem with pulmonary embolism is blood clots traveling to the lungs. So wouldn't the priority here is to dissolve that clot? Why then the treatment is to not take aspirin, an anticoagulant? One of the key points of anticoagulation therapy is patient SHOULD NOT take drugs containing aspiring (Iggy, Medical Surgical Nursing) I'm confused

Answer: Since PE patients are typically medicated with anticoagulants such as Heparin, or Warfarin. Aspirin or other drugs with an anticoagulant effect should be avoided as they could precipitate bleeding if taken in combination with these other anticoagulants.

Question: is there a relationship between hormonal pills and pulmonary embolism? Hormonal pills were prescribed and taken for weeks for perimenopausal bleeding caused by uterine myoma. Hysterectomy was done when the bleeding won't stop. Developed pulmonary embolism post-op.

Answer: I agree with Nurse Tina... pulmonary embolisms usually occur after surgerical procedures. you really need to follow up with your physician, especially if you are still bleeding.

Question: Is there any connection between the deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism? What is the difference between a pulmonary embolus and pulmonary infarct?

Answer: read this "so yes to your question" http://blog.geekwithfibroids.com/2006/09/13/has-anyone-had-problems-with-deep-vein-thrombosis/ Deep Vein Thrombosis Only about half of the people with deep vein thrombosis have symptoms. The symptoms may include: * Swollen area of the leg. * Pain or tenderness in the leg. The pain is usually in one leg and may be felt only when standing or walking. * Increased warmth in the area of the leg that is swollen or in pain. * Red or discolored skin. Pulmonary Embolism Some people find out that they have deep vein thrombosis only after the clot has moved from the leg and traveled to the lung (pulmonary embolism). The symptoms may include: * Chest pain when you take a deep breath * Shortness of breath

Question: Should someone be treated for pulmonary embolism after back surgery? I good friend of mine died from a pulmonary embolism. He had back surgery, encountered some complications about a week later, and was re-admitted to the hospital. The next day he died of a PE. He had been on his back for a few weeks and was overweight.

Answer: despite the known risk of blood clots after surgery, people aren't routinely given blood thinners to prevent PE because to do so would increase the risk of surgical bleeding. once the diagnosis of PE was made however, he should have been treated. PE isn't always easy to diagnose however, and in the absence of any further details I would postulate that no standards of care were violated in your friend's case.

Question: What can cause a pulmonary embolism besides surgery? I had a friend who died from one suddenly.

Answer: Blood clots in the legs breaking free and traveling to the lungs. A person who sits a lot in an office, takes a long plane ride, etc can develop clots from sitting for a long period of time, specially if they have poor circulation and already have varicose veins. When they start moving around a clot can bust loose and head for the lungs or brain. Or heart. Solution is not to sit for long periods of time, wear support hose, take a daily baby aspirin as that helps prevent clot formation and if you have bad varicose veins, get them fixed. If you do feel you have a clot in the leg, do not rub it!! A person also can throw a clot from a broken bone, usually in the leg, such as a hip bone. They can throw a fat globule that causes an embolism elsewhere in the body. On rare occasion a pregnant woman in labor can have an amniotic embolism where some of the amniotic fluid gets into the circulation.

Question: How long does it take to clear your lungs up after pulmonary embolism? This is my second PE. If you are on coumadin, can you travel by air without worry?

Answer: Your lungs will clear up eventually, and it can take from 3 to 6 months for the clot to dissolve, depending on the size of the embolism and how your body heals. Coumadin is a blood thinner, and will help dissolve the clot. Bleeding is the largest risk factor when taking coumadin. You will need to shave with an eclectic razor, and avoid bumping and banging your arms and legs because you will bleed and bruise easily. I would avoid using box cutters, and be careful when using a knife when cooking. You will need to have your PT/INR labs drawn on a regular basis in order to check your bleeding times. Do not skip the lab work, as Coumadin takes about 24 to 48 hours to reverse should your bleeding times be too high. There are also certain foods including cranberries, liver, broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, Swiss chard, coriander, collards, cabbage, and other green leafy vegetables that you will need to either avoid, or eat sparingly. These all have high levels of vitamin K, which will inhibit the drug. As for air travel, I am not aware of any specific restrictions due to Coumadin. However, your physician may have reasons for you not to do any air traveling. My advice for you is to speak with your physican and clairfy your travel restictions, if you have any.

Question: when pulmonary embolism happens in the lungs, what is it exactly doing in it? is it building the fluid substance or blot clot filling up, creating the behaviour or? so it blocks oxygen from coming out?

Answer: A pulmonary embolism (PE) can be life-threatening. Usually they occur when a clot occludes the pulmonary artery or one of it's branches. The pulmonary artery is the artery that drains the right ventricle in the heart. The blood travels via the pulmonary artery to the lungs where the previously unoxygenated venous blood receives oxygen and is transported back to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins. From there it travels through the mitral valve, into the left ventricle and out through the aortic valve into the aorta; From there it goes into systemic circulation and supplies your body and brain with oxygenated blood. When a pulmary embolism occludes (blocks) the pulmonary artery or its branches, quite simply not as much blood can go through to receive oxygen. The alveolar (alveoli are the distal part of the lung where oxygen and carbon monoxide are exchanged) dead space in the lungs is increased. Your body tries to compensate by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Eventually, shock will occur due to the decreased amount of blood in circulation. Or, the blood will back up into the right side of the heart and move backwards in the body causing right-sided heart failure. Even worse, a part of the clot could break loose and occlude an artery going to the brain and cause a stroke. Typically when ever there is a clot, there will be mediators of inflammation ...which could lead to some fluid buildup. Any way you look at it, get to the hospital quick. Hope this helped.

Question: How long after surgery is someone at risk for pulmonary embolism? The person was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery about 4 months ago to remove a section of one of the lungs. Now the patient has a blood clot in the lungs. Is it the surgery or maybe something else that caused it?

Answer: Pulmonary embolism unfortunately can come about because of the cancer, not because of the surgery. My son had three blood clots that originate from his abdominal cavity and traveled to his lungs . .all effects from his sarcoma and four months before he had surgery. The patient should be on a blood thinner to control the clotting and this should be noted on their chart.

Question: Can being overweight cause a pulmonary embolism? My mother said that she thinks that I may have one or may be developing one. I ask if being overweight can cause one because I am severely overweight. I weigh somewhere between 310 and 320, am 6'1", and am 21.

Answer: Read for yourself. It appears that the answer is yes.

Question: Is it safe to have sex after a pulmonary embolism? My husband has been released from the hospital and is ready to have sex. He is taking coumidin and lovenex shots. I am scared that it might be dangerous.

Answer: That is a pretty serious condition. Please ask the doctor this one. You don't want to take the change of getting advise from someone who really doesn't know and other than that, even if someone else that has had it gives you advise, that was them and not your husband. he is completely different. I hope all works out well for you and him.