Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot originating in another part of the body - known as a deep vein thrombosis - travels and settles in the lung. The clot blocks blood flow to the lungs and causes low oxygen levels in your blood. A pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening but risk of death can be greatly reduced by immediate medical attention.

The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism can vary depending on the size of the clot and any underlying conditions a patient may have. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting or a bloody cough.

Treatment

To treat a pulmonary embolism, an interventional radiologist will perform a minimally invasive procedure by first guiding a catheter to the site of the clot. Then the clot can be removed or medication can be used to break up the clot.