Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot formed somewhere in the body that travels through the bloodstream and become wedged in a lung artery, restricting blood flow to the lungs. Oxygen levels in the blood are lowered and blood pressure in the lungs is raised. Symptoms can include:
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Sudden and sharp chest pain
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Shortness of breath
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Coughing
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Sweating
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Fatigue
Clemenceau Medical Center puts at the disposition of the pulmonary specialist a spectrum of latest and state of the art diagnostic tools such as advanced CT scan, echocardiography, scintigraphy, arterial blood gas testing, and pulse oximetry testing.
Pulmonary emboli can dissolve spontaneously (on their own); however your doctor will likely prescribe anticoagulant medications to prevent the clots from growing and additional clots formation. Additional drugs can be administered in the ICU when the pulmonary embolism becomes life threatening. In some cases, a filter is placed to block further clots from entering the lungs.