Pulmonary Embolism

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a medical condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis. Once the clot is formed, additional fibrin and red blood cell deposits can cause the thrombus to grow inside the vein and stops blood from flowing easily through the vein. The most serious complication of DVT happens when a part of the clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage called pulmonary embolism (PE) [1,2].

[1] Esmon CT, Basic Mechanisms and Pathogenesis of Venous Thrombosis, Blood Rev. 2009 Sep; 23(5): 225–229
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html Accessed Oct 2020

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