Pulmonary Embolus

Pulmonary embolus is the presence of a clot of blood in a branch of the pulmonary artery - the blood vessel that takes blood from the heart to the lungs. An embolus is something that’s come from somewhere else in the circulation. The usual source of the blood clot is from one of the deep veins of the leg, following a period of immobility. Classically in the adult this occurs 10 days after major surgery. In the young it is unusual, except in those with defective clotting mechanisms who are prone to developing blood clots (see thrombophilia in blood and circulation disorders in the chest cavity section). Girls with a family history of blood clots, who are thinking of starting the oral contraceptive, may wish to consider having their clotting properties screened. Pulmonary emboli can kill.
 
 
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