Pulmonary+Embolism

200K/y deaths 650K/y admissions

=Etiology=
 * Thrombus
 * less commonly, fat, tumor, amniotic fluid, foreign objects
 * usually from deep veins

3 factors: >* bed rest, sitting during travel other risks:
 * hypercoagulability
 * endothelial damage
 * stasis
 * posteoperative
 * chf
 * obesity
 * carcinoma
 * pregnancy postpartum
 * HRT
 * nephrotic syndrome
 * oral contraceptives
 * sickle cell
 * deficiency in antithrombinIII, Protein C, Protein S, Factor V Leiden Mutation
 * 20% of pts have **no predisposing factors**

=Pathology=
 * Pulmonary circulation serves as filter
 * if more than 50% occluded, death
 * smaller emboli cause Pulmonary Infarction

=Clinical Features=

Arterial Blood Gas

 * V/Q mismatch
 * Effective shunt

=Diagnosis= =Treatment=