Pulmonary embolism
It can sometimes be difficult to d iagnose a pulmonary embolism becausethe symptoms vary between individuals and are similar to many other conditions.
Around halfof all people who develop apulmonary embolism do sowhile they're in hospital.
The condition may be suspected if:
It's important that pulmonary embolisms are diagnosed correctly because treating them isn't always easy and the treatments used can cause side effects.
A number of tests may be used to help determine if you have a pulmonary embolism or to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
For example, you may have a chest X-ray or tests to check how well your lungs are working. You may also have some of the more specialised tests discussed below.
Blood tests can be carried out to detect a number of signs of pulmonary embolism. One of the main tests looks for a substance called D-dimer.
D-dimer is a protein found in the blood after a blood clot has broken down. A D-dimer test can be used to help diagnose blood clotting abnormalities such as thrombosis (where a blood clot develops in a blood vessel).
If your blood test result indicates high levels of D-dimer, itsuggests that pieces of blood clot are loose in your bloodstreamand may have become lodged in your pulmonary artery.
Computerised tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is a procedure where you'reinjected with a special dyebefore having a computerised tomography (CT) scan . The dye makes it easier to see the blood vessels in your lungs during the scan.
A CT scan involves taking a series of X-rays to create a highly detailed image of the inside of your body. If there's a pulmonary embolism in one of your lungs, itmay show up on the scan as a gap in your blood supply.
A ventilation and perfusionscan is used toexamine the flow of air andblood in your lungs.
Beforehaving the scan, you'll be asked to inhale a tasteless, odourless and slightly radioactivegas through a mouthpiece. The gas helps highlight the air flow in your lungs during the scan.
You'll also be given an injectionthat contains a small amount of radioactive material to highlight the blood vessels in your lungs during the scan.
If the scan shows parts ofyour lungshave air in them but no blood supply, it may be the result of a pulmonary embolism.
Find out what a pulmonary embolism is and what causes it, plus how it's diagnosed, treated and prevented.
Read about the possible symptoms of a pulmonary embolism, including chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing.
Read about the possible causes of pulmonary embolism. Three of the main causes are inactivity, blood vessel damage and having blood that clots too easily.
Diagnosing a pulmonary embolism can be difficult because the signs and symptoms vary between individuals and are common to many other conditions.
Read about how pulmonary embolisms are treated using anticoagulant medicines and, occasionally, surgery to remove the blockage.
Find out how to prevent blood clots if you're at risk of developing them, such as taking anticoagulants, wearing compression stockings and increasing your mobility.