Pulmonary embolism

At Aurora Health Care, our expert cardiologists offer every available technique to break up blood clots fast, reduce the damage they can cause and prevent new ones from forming. You can breathe easy knowing we’re close by to quickly get you the help you need.

What is pulmonary embolism?

A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of your pulmonary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to your lungs. Most commonly, the blockage is a blood clot that breaks free from somewhere else in your body and moves to your lungs.

Often, the cause of blood clots in lungs is from a blood clot that forms in one of your deep veins and travels to your lungs. The condition of having blood clots in deep veins is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Even a small embolism can damage your lungs. And a large clot can be life-threatening. Fast, expert treatment can help you survive and recover from a pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism symptoms 

The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism may be different, depending on the size of the blockage and where it occurs. You may also experience more severe symptoms if you have lung or heart disease.

If you think you have a blood clot or a pulmonary embolism, call 911 right away.

The most common signs of a pulmonary embolism include:

• Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly
• Coughing up blood or pink mucus
• Sharp chest pain that hurts more when you take a breath or cough

Other symptoms of a pulmonary embolism can resemble those of a heart attack, such as:

• Rapid heart rate or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Rapid or difficult breathing
• Lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting (syncope)
• Clammy or discolored skin
• Excessive sweating
• Chest pain, as well as pain in your arm, shoulder, neck or jaw

Pulmonary embolism causes, risk factors & complications

Most often, a pulmonary embolism happens when an artery becomes blocked by blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the most common source of blood clots. Usually, the blood clot breaks loose from a vein deep in one of your legs, travels through your bloodstream and gets stuck in the artery, stopping blood flow.

Because DVT can lead to a pulmonary embolism, it’s important to get treated right away for this condition. Symptoms of DVT to watch for include pain, swelling, warmth, red or discolored skin, or sores on one of your legs.

Pulmonary embolism risk factors

You may be at higher risk for developing a blood clot, DVT or pulmonary embolism if you:

• Are age 70 and older
• Have blood that naturally clots too quickly
• Are inactive for long periods, such as sitting on a long flight or car trip, or lying in bed for an extended time after an illness or surgery
• Smoke
• Are overweight
• Had a stroke or have heart failure, cancer or a severe infection
• Take birth control pills or hormone therapy
• Are pregnant or have given birth, especially by cesarean section

Pulmonary embolism complications

Sometimes a pulmonary embolism can cause pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. It puts tremendous pressure on your heart and makes it difficult for you to breathe freely. At our specialized Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic, we offer you advanced diagnosis and personalized care for this complex condition.

Pulmonary embolism diagnosis

Pulmonary embolism can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to signs of a heart attack or panic attack. With our experience and the latest testing technologies, we can provide a fast, accurate diagnosis to start your treatment right away.

We begin by evaluating your risk of pulmonary embolism so we can order the most appropriate tests for you. These tests may include:

• Laboratory testing, such as blood tests to see if you have a blood clot, or check your oxygen level to see how well your lungs are working
• Radiographic imaging, such as a chest X-ray to examine the structure of your heart and lungs, or a CT scan to see a precise image of the blood vessels in your lungs
• Ultrasound that uses sound waves to produce an image of your lungs and heart
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart rhythm and the rhythms of blood flow
• Pulmonary angiogram, where we guide a fine tube (catheter) through a large vein in your groin and into your lungs, using a contrast dye and X-rays to view the blood flow through the arteries in your lungs

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Pulmonary embolism treatment

If you’re diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism or DVT, we’ll talk with you about preventing blood clots from forming. We also may recommend:

• Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet or exercise, or wearing compression socks to keep blood from pooling in your lower legs
• Medications, such as blood thinners to help prevent blood clots
• Vena cava filter placement, a device that catches blood clots before they reach your lungs
• Cardiovascular surgery to remove the blood clot, using minimally invasive procedures whenever possible

If the pulmonary embolism is life-threatening, fast treatment is critical. To dissolve the blood clot in the lung quickly, we may administer thrombolytic medications, often called clot busters.