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Pulmonary Embolism Is a Life-Threatening Condition
Pain is the body’s natural response to alert you that something is wrong. However, there’s a difference between acute pain and chronic pain.
Acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
Our experts offer rapid assessment and treatment for acute pulmonary embolism as well as its chronic forms.
Acute pulmonary embolism is the third most common cause of cardiovascular-related death in the United States behind coronary artery disease and stroke. There are two types of pulmonary embolism:
- Acute PE: Acute pulmonary embolism is a common, life-threatening illness that occurs when a blood clot suddenly becomes wedged in an artery in the lung. The clot blocks blood flow to the heart, preventing oxygen from reaching your body.
- Chronic PE and related conditions: If left untreated, acute pulmonary embolism can lead to chronic PE, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), right ventricular heart failure and cardiogenic shock.
How an acute pulmonary embolism forms
Typically, an acute PE forms when a new blood clot forms somewhere else in the body. One of the most common causes is a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), when a clot forms in one of the deep leg veins. If the clot detaches, it can travel through the veins in the body to the heart. From there, it passes through the right side of the heart and becomes stuck in one of the pulmonary arteries, the large arteries that lead from the heart into the lungs.
Acute PE is often an emergency
Pulmonary embolism symptoms may mimic those experienced during a heart attack, such as shortness of breath, but a PE may go undiagnosed. Like a heart attack, a PE typically requires emergency treatment. Acute pulmonary embolism treatment may include blood thinners, a clot-busting medication administered through an IV or catheter (thin tube inserted in a blood vessel), clot removal or surgery.
PERT: Pulmonary embolism response team
24/7 rapid response treatment for acute pulmonary embolism
Our multidisciplinary team is available day or night. We are the most experienced pulmonary embolism team in the region and offer fast, expert assessment and acute PE treatment on an outpatient or inpatient basis. For suspected acute PE cases, we activate our pulmonary embolism response team (PERT). You’ll receive care right away from a coordinated group of pulmonary embolism experts, including:
- Pulmonologists (lung specialists)
- Intensive care unit (ICU) physicians, many of whom are also trained in lung disease
- Cardiologists (heart specialists), including interventional cardiologists who perform catheter-based procedures
- Cardiothoracic surgeons, who specialize in heart, lung and chest surgery
- Interventional radiologists, who provide imaging to locate and treat the embolism
- Vascular medicine specialists, who specialize in conditions such as deep vein thrombosis
What to Expect With a Pulmonary Embolism
Discover the common causes of a PE and what your treatment options might look like.
Why choose Henry Ford Health for acute pulmonary embolism treatment?
- Dedicated pulmonary and critical care team: Our critical care doctors specialize in pulmonary care, which gives them deep expertise in caring for patients with lung issues. Our dedicated ICU for lung patients has a specific unit for patients with pulmonary hypertension.
- Comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach: Our pulmonary specialists are experts in diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism and offer the latest treatment available. We work closely with other doctors, including heart and vascular specialists, to identify the cause of your pulmonary embolism and personalize your treatment plan for the best possible outcome.
- Expert treatment for all PE forms and related conditions: We are one of few centers in the U.S. with the resources and experience to treat acute pulmonary embolism as well as other related conditions such as pulmonary hypertension, chronic PE and CTEPH.
- Research into new PE treatment options: As a leader in pulmonary research, we have studied new ways to diagnose and treat pulmonary embolism most effectively. We continue to participate in multiple large pulmonary embolism clinical trials, which affords us access to the latest approved therapies and emerging treatment options.
FAQs about acute PE treatment at Henry Ford Health
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Am I at Risk for Developing an Acute Pulmonary Embolism?
There are several potential risk factors for an acute PE, including:
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Age: Acute pulmonary embolism is most common in seniors. However, it can affect a person at any age.
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Slow blood flow: The body requires blood to move constantly, and if it moves too slow, it may clot. For example, people riding in a car or plane for many hours at one time may be more likely to experience slow-moving blood. It's important to take breaks from sitting too long to keep your blood moving.
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Trauma to veins: Injury to your blood vessels can lead to a blood clot. For example, people who have leg surgery might have a higher likelihood of developing blood clots. Most people who stay in the hospital to recover from major surgery receive anticoagulant medications (blood thinners) to help prevent a pulmonary embolism.
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Medical conditions: Some individuals with certain medical conditions may be at risk of forming clots. These conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, or AFib (an irregular heart rhythm), require lifelong anticoagulant medication. Other conditions and their treatments, including cancer and pregnancy, can also increase the likelihood of developing pulmonary embolism.
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Inherited blood disorders: Some conditions, such as thrombophilia, make the blood thick, which can contribute to pulmonary embolism.
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Autoimmune diseases: Several autoimmune conditions can cause blood clots. People with diseases such as lupus and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing an acute pulmonary embolism.
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Smoking: Research has shown a potential link between smoking and an increased risk for developing an acute pulmonary embolism. Smoking can narrow and damage blood vessels, increasing the chance that a clot may form.
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What Are the Symptoms of an Acute PE?
Acute PE can be life-threatening. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, and sometimes chest pain, like a heart attack. Other symptoms may include a rapid or irregular heartbeat, lightheadedness or fainting.
Given that shortness of breath can be mistaken for other conditions or even attributed to being out of shape, some patients ignore their symptoms until it becomes an emergency—such as passing out and being rushed to the hospital. If you experience sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, you should seek emergency treatment. Other symptoms may include a cough, fever and lightheadedness.
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How Do You Diagnose an Acute Pulmonary Embolism?
We use several tests to diagnose pulmonary embolism. These may include:
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Combination imaging studies: A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest in combination with Doppler ultrasound of the legs has become the safest, quickest and best overall method to diagnose a PE.
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Chest X-ray: Doctors usually order a chest X-ray. This test shows a picture of your chest and lungs. It helps us rule out other reasons for your symptoms.
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Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test can help distinguish a PE from a heart attack.
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How Do You Treat Acute PE?
Our team provides access to all possible treatment options, and we personalize the approach. This may include:
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Medical therapies: For example, anticoagulants (blood thinners). These can be given either by mouth or through an IV, and help to break down an existing clot while developing the formation.
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Catheter-based thrombolysis: For someone with a life-threatening pulmonary embolism, we may break up the clot using medication called a lytic, also known as a thrombolytic. We use a catheter (a thin plastic tube that we can slip into a blood vessel) to deliver clot-busting medication directly into the clot. You’ll have this pulmonary embolism treatment in our catheterization lab, while you are awake.
Given that thrombolytics may have serious side effects, we evaluate patients very carefully before selecting this PE treatment option and monitor all patients closely throughout treatment. After thrombolytic pulmonary embolism treatment, you may stay in the hospital for one to three days. Most patients spend 48 hours in our ICU, where we can watch you very closely and quickly respond to any complications.
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Catheter-based thrombectomy: Using a similar procedure in our catheterization lab, we can remove the clot directly.
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Surgical options: In some complicated cases, such as if you’re not eligible for catheter-based therapy or if these procedures don’t work to resolve the clot, our cardiothoracic surgeons can perform a procedure to remove the clot directly.
Our team is also experienced in mechanical circulatory support during heart surgery, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), an advanced life support system used to bypass heart and lung function. In addition, we have one of the most experienced and successful programs for implanting ventricular assist devices (VADs, or heart pumps), including right ventricular assist devices (RVADs), for patients who need them.
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Outpatient treatment following initial care for acute pulmonary embolism
Our program provides coordinated follow-up care after an acute pulmonary embolism on an outpatient basis. The goal of this PE treatment is to help you completely recover from your acute PE event as well as help prevent the development of additional blood clots.