Pulmonary Embolism

 
Pulmonary embolism is a condition that occurs when an artery in the lung becomes blocked. In most cases, the blockage is caused by one or more blood clots that travel to the lungs from another part of the body. Most clots originate in the legs, but they can also form in arm veins, the right side of the heart or even at the tip of a catheter placed in a vein.

Causes and risk factors contributing to clot formation may include (but are not limited to):

• Surgery
• Long periods of inactivity
• Increased levels of clotting factors in the blood such as estrogen in birth control pills of hormone therapy
• Medical conditions such as heart attack or stroke
• Injury to the veins as a result of surgical procedures like knee or hip replacements