Abstract and Introduction
Introduction
Pulmonary Embolism (PE) occurs when a pulmonary artery becomes blocked—usually by a blood clot that has broken free from its site of origin and embolized or migrated to the lungs. If misdiagnosed, unrecognized, or untreated, PE can cause death quickly—within just an hour. It's fatal in up to 26% of cases.
Massive PE, defined as causing 50% or more occlusion of the pulmonary capillary bed, can result in obstructive shock with systemic hypoperfusion (low cardiac output and acute pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular failure). It must be remedied immediately to save the patient's life.
The true incidence of PE is unknown. Estimates range widely from 500,000 to 780,000 cases annually in the United States. Undiscovered PE is a frequent autopsy finding, with estimates of more than 400,000 undiagnosed postmortem cases. Because of its high mortality and the diagnostic challenges it poses, clinicians must be diligent in preventing PE, recognizing it early, and providing prompt and appropriate treatment.