Pulmonary embolism (MET)

Pulmonary embolism (MET)

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PET) involves blocking the blood flow through a pulmonary emboli (which is usually a fragment of thrombus, less fat, air or amniotic fluid).



The patient can not breathe normally (has "no air") and make an effort to do this: breathe more frequently, is sweating and heart rate accelerates, becomes anxious. It may present a drop in blood pressure, coughing and pinkish frothy sputum, chest pain, cold extremities.



This condition occurs on a background of predisposing factors: acquired or inherited hypercoagulable states, history of surgery or trauma, obesity, immobilization, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, etc..



Besides clinical examination, PET is performed in a series of explorations that help laboratory diagnosis: ECG, chest radiograph, the balance to clotting



Treatment consists of destruction of thrombolytic clot blocking substances or methods with interventional (catheter or surgical). To this is added to anticoagulant therapy, treatment of pain and anxiety, vasodilator therapy, support circulation and oxygen.
Very important in this disease is to prevent subsequent episodes in people with risk.