Pulmonary thromboembolism is a condition where a blood clot lodges into a pulmonary artery. These blood clots can originate in the heart or in any of the major veins throughout the body and carried through the bloodstream toward the lungs, where it gets caught in a narrow portion of the arterial network of the lungs thus slowing or stopping the flow of blood through that artery. The severity of the condition is dependent on the size of the blood clot.
Slow-flowing blood, blood vessel damage and blood clotting disorder, where blood clots too easily, are predisposing factors leading to thrombus formation. Mostly pulmonary PTE is caused by another underlying disease process.
Typical symptoms are fatigue, cough, lack of appetite, difficulty breathing, inability to sleep or get comfortable, increased breathing rate, spitting up blood, exercise intolerance, and pale or bluish-colored gums.
