Pulmonary Embolism

The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism can vary depending on the size of the clot, the area of the lung affected, and if you have an underlying lung or heart condition.

Get medical help straight away if you notice:

• sudden shortness of breath

• a sharp pain in your chest

• dizziness and/or fainting

• a fast or pounding heartbeat

• a cough that brings up blood or bloody mucus

• excessive sweating

• pale, discoloured, or clammy skin

• a fever

• leg pain or swelling

Blood clotting is an important way for your body to stop and prevent too much bleeding. Normally, the body breaks down blood clots over time, but sometimes this doesn’t happen.

Blood clots can form in arteries and veins because of:

• slow blood flow

• injury

• a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Once a clot has formed, there’s a risk it can break off and travel to another area of your body. A clot that travels to the lungs is a pulmonary embolism. 

You may be more at risk of this if you:

• have had recent surgery – especially orthopaedic surgery on a lower limb

• a medical illness – especially if you’ve been immobile in hospital

• have had COVID-19

• have had recent trauma to a vein or a fracture

• take oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

• have cancer

• smoke

• have a history of heart failure or stroke

• have a BMI over 30

• are older

• have a family history of blood clots or clotting disorders

• are pregnant or have recently given birth

A pulmonary embolism can usually be diagnosed with one or more of the following tests:

• blood tests

• a chest x-ray

• a CT scan

• an ultrasound scan

• a ventilation/perfusion scan

• a pulmonary angiogram

• an MRI scan

It might not always be possible to avoid a pulmonary embolism, but you can reduce your risk by:

• doing regular physical activity – move your arms, legs, and feet for a few minutes every hour. If you need to sit or stand for long periods, like on a plane, wear compression stockings to encourage blood flow

• drinking plenty of fluids, but limiting alcohol and caffeine

• not using tobacco products

• elevating your feet for 30 minutes twice a day

• avoiding crossing your legs

• not wearing tight-fitting clothing

• getting to a weight that’s healthy for you

A pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as:

• oxygen levels in the blood dropping to very low levels (cyanosis)

• a heart attack

• stroke

• high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)

• shock

• pulmonary infarction (lung tissue death)

If you’ve had a pulmonary embolism, you’ll need to stay in hospital for treatment and have your condition closely monitored.

Treatment usually involves having daily anticoagulant (blood-thinning) injections while you’re in hospital. You’ll also need to take daily oral anticoagulants for at least 3 months after you’ve been allowed to go home. 

This is to stop blood clots from getting any bigger and to stop new ones from forming. 

In cases where a clot in the lung is very large, more aggressive therapy may be needed to dissolve the clot quickly, including removing it physically via catheter or surgery.

At Welbeck, our lung specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.