In pulmonary embolism, an obstruction of blood flow in
the pulmonary arteries leads to hypoxia. Patients at risk for suffering a pulmonary embolism are those who experience long periods of immobility (such as bedridden individuals, those who travel for a long period confined in one position, those with splints to extremities) as well as those with heart disease, recent surgery, long-bone fractures, venous pooling associated with pregnancy, cancer, deep vein thrombosis (development of clots in the veins, most commonly in the legs), estrogen therapy, clotting disorders, history of previous pulmonary embolism, and those who smoke. |
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October 2016
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