Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of one or more arteries in the lungs, most commonly caused by a blood clot that has traveled from a vein elsewhere in the body, typically the legs. It can cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and a rapid heart rate, and a large embolism can be immediately life-threatening. It is closely related to deep vein thrombosis, which is often the source of the clot.
Facts
Classification
ICD-10 ChapterIX: Diseases of the Circulatory System 1 Communicable or Non-communicable Transmission Route Causative Agent
Causative Agent (category)Idiopathic / Multifactorial 3 Connections
Associated With
Blockage of a pulmonary artery, usually by a blood clot; pulmonology specialty.
Treated By
Source Inferior vena cava filter (Wikipedia)
Thrombectomy is used to remove a clot in severe pulmonary embolism.
Source Thrombolysis (Wikipedia)
Source Ultrasound-enhanced systemic thrombolysis (Wikipedia)
Warfarin is a standard oral anticoagulant used in pulmonary embolism treatment.
Source Warfarin (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Wikipedia: ICD-10
WikipediaList of chapters, Chapter IXQuote, List of chapters, Chapter IX
Diseases of the circulatory system
2. World Health Organization: Noncommunicable diseases (fact sheet)
World Health OrganizationLead section, transmission-route statement (inferred from disease-category)
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
Main Types section
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
View the Source 3. Pulmonary embolism (Wikipedia)
Inferior vena cava filter (Wikipedia)
Treated By: Inferior Vena Cava Filter, Lead: treats Pulmonary EmbolismQuote, Treated By: Inferior Vena Cava Filter, Lead: treats Pulmonary Embolism
An inferior vena cava filter is a medical device made of metal that is implanted by vascular surgeons or interventional radiologists into the inferior vena cava to prevent a life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE) or venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Thrombolysis (Wikipedia)
Treated By: Thrombolysis, Lead: treats Pulmonary EmbolismQuote, Treated By: Thrombolysis, Lead: treats Pulmonary Embolism
It is used in ST elevation myocardial infarction, stroke, and in cases of severe venous thromboembolism (massive pulmonary embolism or extensive deep vein thrombosis).
Ultrasound-enhanced systemic thrombolysis (Wikipedia)
Treated By: Ultrasound-Enhanced Systemic Thrombolysis, Lead: treats Pulmonary EmbolismQuote, Treated By: Ultrasound-Enhanced Systemic Thrombolysis, Lead: treats Pulmonary Embolism
One major advantage of using ultrasound versus systemic thrombolysis is a reduced risk of bleeding, and improved heart function in the case of pulmonary embolism.
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