Pulmonary #Embolism in Lower Limb Surgery

Courtesy: Prof Nabile Ebraheim, University of Toledo, Ohio, USA

This video describes about pulmonary embolism.

PE is a life threatening condition & can cause death even in healthy young individual.

One theory says that the clot formed in the deep veins of calf (DVT) reaches lung through pulmonary artery from right side of the lung & another theory says that clot is formed in the pulmonary artery itself. Genetic variations that contributes to PE are Factor 5 leiden thrombophilia, protein c& s deficiency. Endothelial injury, hypercoagulability & venous stasis ( Virchow’s triad ) predisposes to DVT. Pain, swelling & cramps in legs are the main symptoms of DVT. Tachypnoea, sudden dyspnoea, chest pain, dizziness, syncope, lightheadedness, are the early signs of PE. If patient complaints of chestpain following hip or knee surgery, PE should be anticipated. ABG, chest X-ray, ultrasound- legs, ventilation perfusion scan, CAT or CT scan help in diagnosis.Therapy should be initiated with heparin & followed up with long term use of Coumadin