Difference between revisions of "Pulmonary Embolism"
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In the general population, there are several well-documented risk factors for the development of '''PE''': genetic risk factors like factor V Leiden and acquired risk factors like cancer, recent surgery, active cancer, and recent hormone therapy. There is one major risk factor that is specific to health care professionals and the development of '''PE''': sitting at the computer for more than 90% of each work day. For this reason, it is recommended that health care professionals receive heparin prophylaxis while on service. | In the general population, there are several well-documented risk factors for the development of '''PE''': genetic risk factors like factor V Leiden and acquired risk factors like cancer, recent surgery, active cancer, and recent hormone therapy. There is one major risk factor that is specific to health care professionals and the development of '''PE''': sitting at the computer for more than 90% of each work day. For this reason, it is recommended that health care professionals receive heparin prophylaxis while on service. | ||
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[[Category:Emergency Medicine]] | [[Category:Emergency Medicine]] | ||
Revision as of 18:03, 9 July 2017
A pulmonary embolism (also known as pulmonary embolus, PE, or P-damn-E) is an obstruction of the one of the pulmonary arteries (or its branches) by material (thrombus, air, cement, or sandwich) originating from elsewhere in the body. It is a form of venous thromboembolism.
Methods of Classifications
Timing - Based on the temporal development, PE can be characterized as chronic ("F**k!"), subacute ("Holy sh*t!"), or acute ("M**THERF**KER!!).
Hemodynamics - PE can be further classified by the presence of hemodynamic stability and right heart strain:
- Low risk - PE is present ("Darn!"), hemodynamically stable ("Woohoo!"), no right heart strain ("Score!")
- Intermediate risk - PE present ("Darn!"), hemodynamically stable ("Woohoo!"), right heart strain ("Dagnabbit!")
- High risk - PE present ("Darn!"), hemodynamically unstable ("ICU, HELP ME QUICK!!!)
Location - Classification can also be based on location: saddle (embolus took place while riding a horse), lobar (not sure what that means), segmental (woah...), and subsegmental (them's fancy radiology words!)
Symptoms - Lastly, PE can be classified on whether the patient is symptomatic ("We know why you're short of breath") or asymptomatic ("When we scanned your big toe, we did manage to catch a PE in your chest...")
Epidemiology
Yes, it happens.
Pathophysiology
Two words: Virchow's triad. Need we say more?
Risk Factors
In the general population, there are several well-documented risk factors for the development of PE: genetic risk factors like factor V Leiden and acquired risk factors like cancer, recent surgery, active cancer, and recent hormone therapy. There is one major risk factor that is specific to health care professionals and the development of PE: sitting at the computer for more than 90% of each work day. For this reason, it is recommended that health care professionals receive heparin prophylaxis while on service.
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Fun Stuff
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