Etymed
pulmonary embolism
Definition
A blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, typically caused by a blood clot that has traveled from the legs or other parts of the body
Clinical context
A 65-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. The patient has a history of prolonged immobilization following hip surgery and presents with unilateral leg swelling. Physical examination reveals tachypnea and tachycardia. CT pulmonary angiography shows a filling defect in the main pulmonary artery.
Mnemonic
Pulmonary embolism: PELVIS - Pain, Effusion, Leukocytosis, Infection, Ventilation-perfusion mismatch, Shock