Pulmonary Embolism Pathophysiology Nursing

Pulmonary Embolism Pathophysiology Nursing

Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a pulmonary artery becomes blocked—usually by a blood clot that has broken free from its site of origin and embolized or migrated to the lungs. If misdiagnosed, unrecognized, or untreated, PE can cause death quickly—within just an hour. It’s fatal in up to 26% of cases.

Massive PE, defined as causing 50% or more occlusion of the pulmonary capillary bed, can result in obstructive shock with systemic hypoperfusion (low cardiac output and acute pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular failure). It must be remedied immediately to save the patient’s life.

Pathophysiology
The usual underlying cause of PE is deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in a lower extremity, the pelvis, or even an upper extremity. DVT, in turn, typically results from one or more of these conditions: venous stasis, blood hypercoagulability (increased clotting), or endovascular damage. Known collectively as Virchow’s triad, these conditions can stem from a range of situations.

Pulmonary Embolism Pathophysiology Nursing

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *