Snapshot A 36-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with worsening shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. She recently returned to the United States from a business meeting overseas. She takes an oral contraceptive. Her temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), blood pressure is 135/82 mmHg, pulse is 112/min, respirations are 24/min, and oxygen saturation is 89% on room air. A CT angiogram demonstrates a filling defect in the pulmonary vasculature. She is started on supplemental oxygen and heparin. Summary Pulmonary embolism is mechanical obstruction of the pulmonary vasculature secondary to a blood clot it is a common cause of chest pain and dyspnea in the general population Diagnosis is made with a CTA of the chest (preferred in most patients) with a V/Q scan in patients who cannot undergo a CTA of the chest with angiography (most accurate test but rarely used) Treatment is usually Blood thinners in stable patients (heparin, enoxaparin, warfarin, apixaban, etc.) Thrombolytics (in hemodynamically unstable/peri-arrest patients) Mechanical thrombectomy (for massive/submassive PEs and in patients with unstable hemodynamics Epidemiology Risk factors prolonged immobilization malignancy thrombophilia / hypercoagulability (factor V Leiden, antithrombin III deficiency, protein C/S deficiency) high estrogen states (pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives, obesity) autoimmune conditions (lupus) nephrotic syndrome (including HIV which can cause a nephrotic syndrome) trauma smoking Etiology DVT (most common) from the veins of the proximal thigh (iliac, femoral, or popliteal) Phlegmasia cerulea dolens a progression from a DVT massive thrombus that can embolize from the proximal ileofemoral vein enlarged, blue, and tender lower extremity Septic embolism from right-heart endocarditis Fat embolism Amniotic fluid embolism Cement embolism from kyphoplasty Pathophysiology occlusion of the pulmonary vasculature commonly from a dislodge DVT results in hypoxemia and subsequent pulmonary vasoconstriction the increased pulmonary constriction causes an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, which decreases right ventricular stroke volume leading to login to view 4 more bullets hypoxemia leads to compensatory tachypnea, hyperventilation, and a respiratory alkalosis Presentation Symptoms dysnea (most common) chest pain palpitations hemoptysis extremity swelling (suggestive of DVT) syncope in cases of a large PE Physical exam tachypnea tachycardia loud P2 findings of DVT fever hemodynamic instability and syncope in cases of a large PE Imaging CT angiography of the chest indication most appropriate confirmatory test indicated if moderate/high risk via Wells' score or if D-dimer is positive Chest radiography (typically normal and neither sensitive nor specific) pleural effusions Hampton hump (wedged-shaped infarct) Westermark sign (avascularity distal to the PE) V/Q scan indication performed if patient cannot undergo a CT angiogram interpretation (not a specific test) normal = rules out PE high-probability with a positive V/Q scan = treat with blood thinners low or intermediate probability = consider angiography vs empiric treatment Venous duplex ultrasound of the lower extremities indication to evaluate if there are DVTs (if positive, can start anticoagulation) useful in pregnancy to avoid radiation exposure Echocardiography larger PEs may cause right ventricular dysfunction and dilatation Studies ECG findings sinus tachycardia (most common) tachydysrhythmias right ventricular strain S1Q3T3 (neither sensitive nor specific) login to view 1 more bullet T-wave inversions in V1-V4 Arterial blood gas findings hypoxemia hypocapnia respiratory alkalosis alveolar-arterial gradient may be elevated D-dimer has a high sensitivity but poor specificity for PE used to rule-out PE if there is a low pre-test probability via Wells' score login to view 1 more bullet Differential Acute coronary syndrome differentiating factors ST elevation in a vascular distribution in a STEMI troponin elevation in STEMI or NSTEMI (but can also be elevated in PE) Costochondritis differentiating factors pain with palpation or movement of the arms Aortic dissection differentiating factors sudden tearing pain that radiates to the chest, back, and/or abdomen CTA can differentiate between these diagnoses Treatment Medical anticoagulation indication login to view 1 more bullet medication options (best initial step in high risk patient with obvious PE) login to view 7 more bullets warfarin login to view 2 more bullets thrombolytic therapy indication login to view 1 more bullet Operative embolectomy indication login to view 1 more bullet IVC filter indication login to view 1 more bullet Prognosis High mortality without treatment PERC - if meet all criteria in a low-risk patient can avoid further workup for PE Age < 50 years Heart rate < 100/min Oxygen saturation 95% or greater on room air Absence of hemoptysis No recent trauma or surgery No history of thromboembolism No signs or symptoms of DVT No estrogen use or medications that cause hypercoagulability Wells Criteria used to assess for risk of pulmonary embolism signs and symptoms of DVT +3 pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most likely diagnosis +3 pulse is 100/min or greater +1.5 surgery within the past 4 weeks or immobilization for the past 3 days + 1.5 previously diagnosed PE or DVT + 1.5 hemoptysis +1 malignancy with treatment in the past 6 months < 2 points low risk consider using D-dimer 2-6 points moderate risk consider D-dimer or CTA > 6 points high risk imaging required