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Toggle: English / SpanishPulmonary embolus - Symptom
Alternative Names
Venous thromboembolism; Lung blood clot; Blood clot - lung; Embolus; Tumor embolus; Embolism - pulmonary
Symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Under the breastbone or on one side
- May feel sharp or stabbing
- May also be described as a burning, aching, or dull, heavy sensation
- May get worse with deep breathing, coughing, eating, or bending
- You may bend over or hold your chest in response to the pain
- Sudden cough, possibly coughing up blood or bloody mucus
- Rapid breathing
- Rapid heart rate
- Shortness of breath that starts suddenly
Other symptoms that may occur:
- Anxiety
- Bluish skin discoloration (cyanosis)
- Clammy skin
- Dizziness
- Leg pain, redness, and swelling
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Sweating
- Wheezing
Signs and tests:
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history.
The following lab tests may be done to see how well your lungs are working:
- Arterial blood gases
- Pulse oximetry
The following imaging tests can help determine where the blood clot is located:
- Chest x-ray
- CT angiogram of the chest
- Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan, also called a V/Q scan
- Pulmonary angiogram
Other tests that may be done include:
- Chest CT scan
- D-dimer level
- Doppler ultrasound exam of the legs
- Echocardiogram
- Reviewed last on: 2/28/2011
- David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
References
Anderson DR, Kahn SR, Rodger MA, et al. Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography vs ventilation-perfusion lung scanning in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism: a randomized controlled trial.JAMA. 2007;298(23):2743-2753.
Kline JA, Courtney DM, Kabrhel C, et al. Prospective multicenter evaluation of the pulmonary embolism rule out criteria. J Thromb Haemost. 2008;6(5):772-780.
Lim W, Crowther MA, Ginsberg JS. Venous thromboembolism. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ Jr, Shattil SJ, et al, eds. Hoffman Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008:chap 135.
Righini M, Le Gal G, Aujesky D, et al. Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism by multidetector CT alone or combined with venous ultrasonography of the leg: a randomised non-inferiority trial. Lancet. 2008;371(9621):1343-1352.
Snow V, Qaseem A, Barry P, et al. Management of venous thromboembolism: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(3):204-210.
Tapson VF. Pulmonary embolism. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 99.
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