Pulmonary Embolism

The diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism demand an interdisciplinary approach, combining medical, surgical, and radiologic specialties. Despite substantial advances, mortality and recurrence rates remain high. The present article addresses thrombotic venous thromboembolism, even though the term “pulmonary embolism” encompasses embolism from many sources, including air, bone marrow, arthroplasty cement, amniotic fluid, tumor, talc, and sepsis.Epidemiology and PathophysiologyPulmonary embolism ranges from incidental, clinically unimportant thromboembolism to massive embolism with sudden death. Hypercoagulability leads to the formation of thrombus in the leg veins, with proximal extension as the clot propagates. As thrombi form in the deep veins of the . . .