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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Pulmonary embolism occurs when a clump of material, most often a blood clot, gets wedged into an artery in your lungs. These blood clots most commonly originate in the deep veins of your legs, but they can also come from other parts of your body. This condition is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Occasionally, other substances can form blockages within the blood vessels inside your lungs. Examples include:
- Fat from within the marrow of a broken bone
- Part of a tumor
- Air bubbles
It's rare to experience a solitary pulmonary embolism. In most cases, multiple clots are involved. The lung tissue served by each blocked artery is robbed of fuel and may die. This makes it more difficult for your lungs to provide oxygen to the rest of your body.
Because pulmonary embolism almost always occurs in conjunction with deep vein thrombosis, some doctors refer to the two conditions together as venous thromboembolism (VTE).
- Pulmonary embolism. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/pe/pe_what.html. Accessed June 26, 2009.
- Thompson BT, et al. Overview of acute pulmonary embolism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 26, 2009.
- Kline JA, et al. Pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practices. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/146574529-3/0/1365/250.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50092-5--cesec18_4265. Accessed June 29, 2009.
- Bauer KA, et al. Overview of causes of venous thrombosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 26, 2009.
- Deep vein thrombosis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00219. Accessed June 29, 2009.
- Tapson VF. Pulmonary embolism. In: Goldman L. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/146574529-5/0/1492/393.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50104-X--cesec7_4150. Accessed June 29, 2009.
- Pulmonary hypertension. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/pah/pah_what.html. Accessed June 29, 2009.
- Ferri FF. Pulmonary embolism. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/146779547-3/0/1701/492.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50019-7--subchapter69_10424. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- General nuclear medicine. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=gennuclear. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Catheter angiography. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=Angiocath. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Lip GY, et al. Patient information: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Deep vein thrombosis. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Dvt/DVT_All.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 5, 2009.
