What Is A Pulmonary Embolism Blood Clot?

Simply put, a pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that forms in another part of the body but travels to the lungs. A pulmonary embolism can be extremely dangerous because it can cause passages in the lungs to close and thereby decrease oxygen exchange.

What causes a pulmonary embolism? A blood clot often forms elsewhere in the body and moves to the lungs through the circulatory system.

Effects of a pulmonary embolism A pulmonary embolism may cause the following symptoms and effects:

• low blood pressure,
• shortness of breath,
• chest pain,
• rapid breathing and
• an elevated heart rate.

A pulmonary embolism sometimes requires very aggressive treatment to maintain or raise blood pressure and increase the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Oxygen can be supplied through a nasal cannula, which is tubing that is inserted at the tip of the nostrils. In severe cases, an oxygen mask or even ventilation equipment may be necessary.

Blood thinning medication, either by IV or orally, may be administered.

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