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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffPulmonary embolism can be life-threatening. About one-third of people with undiagnosed and untreated pulmonary embolism don't survive. When the condition is diagnosed and treated promptly, however, that number drops dramatically.
Pulmonary embolism can also lead to pulmonary hypertension, a condition in which the blood pressure in your lungs is too high. When you have obstructions in the arteries inside your lungs, your heart must work harder to push blood through those vessels. This increases the blood pressure within these vessels and can wear out a section of your heart.
- 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.
