Pulmonary Embolism Treatment

The lungs are paired organs that are located in the chest cavity. These are the most vital organs of the respiratory system. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which is extremely important for our survival takes place within the lungs. If the lungs get affected due to a medical condition, one is most likely to suffer from distressing symptoms such as shortness of breath, anxiety or chest pain. Pulmonary embolism is one of the serious medical conditions that can have an adverse impact on the functioning of the lungs. It occurs when a blood clot breaks loose from a vein in the arms, heart, pelvis or the lower extremities and blocks a pulmonary artery. As the blood supply to a section of lungs gets cut off due to a blocked artery, oxygen and nutrients don't reach that part of the lungs. This could cause the death of the lung tissue. If the size of the blood clot is very large, the impact of a pulmonary infarct, will be considerable. If this condition is not diagnosed and treated on time, a life-threatening situation could also arise. Wondering how is pulmonary embolism treated? Pulmonary embolism treatment options generally involve drug therapy, but in severe cases, surgery may be required to remove the blood clot from the pulmonary artery. Before we move on to the treatment options, here's some information on the symptoms of pulmonary embolism along with the risk factors.

Risk Factors for Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism is mostly a complication of deep vein thrombosis, which in turn, is a condition associated with the embedding of a blood clot in a deep vein in thighs, pelvic region or lower extremities. This could be caused by trauma to the veins due to an injury or immobilization due to a recent surgery. Those who have been hospitalized or have been bedridden for long periods of time are quite susceptible to developing deep vein thrombosis. Heart disease, obesity and certain enzyme deficiencies are believed to be the risk factors. In case of women, pregnancy or prolonged use of birth control pills may also increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Any other condition that may cause blood to clot at a fast rate could make one susceptible to deep vein thrombosis, which in turn, may increase the risk of pulmonary embolism. Chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, cough, sweating and loss of consciousness are the symptoms that usually occur as a result of pulmonary embolism.

Treatment Options for Pulmonary Embolism

Use of an anticoagulant or blood-thinning medication is usually recommended for treating a blood clot in lungs. The patient would need to be hospitalized and a blood thinning medication would be administered intravenously in case of a medical emergency. Blood-thinning medication, as the name suggests, is a drug that thins down the blood and prevents the blood clots from forming or getting enlarged. Heparin and warfarin are the two anticoagulants that are commonly prescribed for treating this condition. While heparin is administered intravenously, warfarin is taken orally. However, the treatment of pulmonary embolism during pregnancy doesn't involve the use of warfarin. This is due to the teratogenic properties of this drug. It is believed that warfarin may adversely affect the normal embryonic development, this is the reason why heparin is prescribed for pregnant women suffering from pulmonary embolism.

Enoxaparin, another form of heparin with a lower molecular weight, could also be injected into the skin. Though these forms of heparin often work well, if these aren't helping, another class of drugs called thrombolytics might be prescribed. Thrombolytics are a class of drugs, that help in dissolving the clot. This is given when the oxygen levels are very low and the patient is suffering from blood pressure collapse. Streptokinase, urokinase and reteplase are some of the clot-buster drugs that are used in case of massive blood clots. If doctors consider that anticoagulant therapy may be too risky, they may place a device called an inferior vena cava filter in the main central vein located in the abdomen. This device filters the blood clots and prevents them from traveling to the blood vessels of the lungs. Surgical intervention may be required in severe cases. This may involve the insertion of a catheter through the veins so as to remove the blood clot. Besides the use of blood-thinners or vena cava filter, oxygen therapy may also be required if the patient is suffering from severe shortness of breath. This condition will resolve if one follows the treatment guidelines on time. One must understand the need for making lifestyle-related changes so as to prevent the recurrence of this condition in future. these include staying physically active and following a healthy diet.

Though an early diagnosis and treatment could avert complications associated with pulmonary embolism, one must take all possible precautionary measures to prevent this condition. Immobilization due to long-distance air travel, surgery or a sedentary lifestyle increases one's risk of developing pulmonary embolism. So, make sure that you stay physically active at all times. If one does develop this condition as a result of deep vein thrombosis, one must consult a doctor for treatment at the earliest.