Pulmonary Embolism

Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism can be diagnosed through the following tests:

• Lung Scan
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
• Blood tests (including the D-dimer test)
• Pulmonary angiogram
• Ultrasound of the Leg
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lungs/legs

Treatment for Pulmonary Embolism

Treatment for pulmonary embolism is aimed at closely monitoring the patient's health at a medical care center. The actual length of treatment and hospital stay may vary, depending on the severity of the clot.

Doctors may prescribe the following treatment procedures depending on your medical condition:

Anticoagulant Medications: Treatment for PE, in general, comprises anticoagulant medications (blood thinners), which help decrease the blood's ability to clot. The medications also help prevent future blood clots. These include:

• Warfarin (Coumadin®)
• Heparin
• Low-molecular-weight heparin
• Fondaparinux (Arixtra®)

Blood Tests: The doctor may suggest the following blood tests for patients while taking anticoagulant medication:

• Prothrombin Time (PT or protime) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) Test: The test is prescribed for patients taking Coumadin and helps healthcare providers determine the pace at which blood clots and the need for a change in medication dosage.
• Activated partial thromboplastin (aPTT): It monitors the condition of patients under heparin treatment and measures the time taken for blood to clot.
• Anti-Xa or Heparin Assay: It is used for obese patients to measure the low molecular weight heparin level in the blood. The test may also be prescribed for individuals with kidney disease or who are pregnant.

Compression Stockings: Also referred to as a 'Support Hose,' ease the process of blood flow in the legs. However, these should be used strictly under the prescription of a doctor treating you for PE. Compression stockings are knee-high in length and made to compress legs to prevent blood pooling.

Surgical Procedures: Life-threatening situations of PE can be managed or treated by surgery. This is recommended for removing the embolus from the pulmonary artery. In some cases, doctors may also prescribe an interventional procedure involving placing a filter inside the most prominent vein (vena cava filter) to trap clots way before they enter the lungs.

Thrombolytic Medications: Patients may be recommended intake of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) to dissolve the clot. Thrombolytics must be administered in a hospital where the patient can be closely monitored. The medications can be given only in special situations (low blood pressure or unstable patient condition due to PE).

Living with the Condition: Although a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening, most patients can survive by following simple health strategies and timely treatment. Once treated for PE, learning to live with recurrence risk is important.

Healthcare providers usually prescribe anticoagulants or blood thinners. Patients may need to take these medications for three months. In some cases, one may also need to take it for the rest of their life, depending on their health condition.

• Symptoms and Causes