Pulmonary embolus

Alternative names:

emboli - lung

Symptoms:

• cough
  • begins suddenly
  • may produce bloody sputum (significant amounts of visible blood or lightly blood streaked sputum)

• sudden onset of shortness of breath at rest or with exertion
• splinting of ribs with breathing (e.g., bending over or holding the chest)
• lightheadedness
• fainting
• dizziness
• chest pain
  • under the breastbone or on one side
  • sharp, stabbing, burning, aching or dull, heavy sensation
  • may be worse at night
  • may radiate to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, or other area
  • may be worsened by breathing deeply, coughing, eating, bending, or stooping

• sweating
• anxiety
• breathing, rapid
• rapid heart rate (tachycardia)

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• wheezing
• skin, clammy
• skin discoloration, bluish
• pulse, weak or absent
• nasal flaring
• joint pain
• pelvis pain
• leg pain in one or both legs
• breathing, absent temporarily
• blood pressure, low
• abdominal indigestion
• swelling in the legs (lower extremities)
• lump associated with a vein near the surface of the body (superficial vein), may be painful

Signs and tests:

Tests to evaluate the function of the lungs:

• arterial blood gases
• pulmonary function tests

Tests to detect the location and extent of embolism:

• chest X-ray
• lung scan
• pulmonary angiogram

Tests to detect DVT (a common cause):

• venography of the legs
• extremity arteriography
• blood flow studies
• Doppler ultrasound exam of an extremity
• plethysmography of the legs

An ECG may show abnormalities caused by strain on the heart.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan
• febrile/cold agglutinins
• antithrombin III
• ACE levels