Origins
This condition occurs when a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) dislodges and travels to the pulmonary arteries, obstructing blood flow and causing respiratory distress.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
This type of lung tissue damage, characterized by pleuritic chest pain and hemoptysis, results from the obstruction of blood flow to a region of the lung due to a thrombus.
What is pulmonary infarction?
This symptom of a pulmonary embolism usually onsets suddenly and worsens with exertion.
What is dyspnea (shortness of breath)?
Although not diagnostic for pulmonary embolism, this imaging modality can confirm deep vein thrombosis, allowing for prophylactic treatment with low molecular weight heparin.
What is bedside ultrasound?
This NFL team, known for its six Super Bowl victories and the "Terrible Towel," is the favorite of our subject.
What are the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Due to higher perfusion from gravity, pulmonary emboli are more commonly found in this (upper/middle/lower) region of the lungs.
What are the lower lung lobes?
An acute pulmonary embolism can cause this life-threatening condition, characterized by decreased cardiac output and systemic hypotension due to right ventricular failure.
What is obstructive shock?
Obstruction of this artery prevents blood from reaching a portion of the lung, leading to hypoxia.
What is the pulmonary artery?
This fibrin degradation product is measured in a blood test that is sensitive but not specific for pulmonary embolism.
What is D-dimer?
If he hadn’t pursued medicine, he would have explored the depths of the ocean in this profession.
What is a marine biologist?
This triad, named after a German physician, describes these three major factors contributing to thrombus formation.
What is venous stasis, endothelial injury, and hypercoagulability?
In a pulmonary embolism, this ventricle experiences increased afterload, leading to dilation and bowing of the interventricular septum into the opposite ventricle.
What is the right ventricle?
This type of chest pain is described as sharp, stabbing, or burning and worsens with deep breathing.
What is pleuritic chest pain?
A prominent S wave in lead I, a Q wave in lead III, and an inverted T wave in lead III collectively form this classic ECG pattern associated with pulmonary embolism.
What is S1Q3T3?
Despite living in Texas and being married to a Texan, this type of cuisine is his least favorite.
What is Mexican food?
A large embolus lodged at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery is called this, which can lead to severe cardiovascular compromise.
What is a saddle embolus?
Despite normal ventilation, the lungs in pulmonary embolism fail to receive blood flow, creating this type of physiologic dead space.
What is wasted ventilation?
The increased heart rate seen in pulmonary embolism is a compensatory response to decreased cardiac output.
What is tachycardia?
This imaging study is considered the definitive diagnostic test for pulmonary embolism but is contraindicated in patients with kidney disease, contrast dye allergy, or pregnancy.
What is CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA)?
This Pulitzer Prize-winning American biographer and historian, known for works like Team of Rivals and The Bully Pulpit, is his favorite author.
Who is Doris Kearns Goodwin?
This type of embolism is associated with long bone fractures and liposuction and can present with hypoxemia, neurological symptoms, and a petechial rash.
What is a fat embolism?
Due to hyperventilation in pulmonary embolism, carbon dioxide is eliminated rapidly, leading to this disturbance in blood pH.
What is respiratory alkalosis?
Rapid shallow breathing triggered by hypoxia and CO2 buildup is known as this.
What is tachypnea?
This scoring system helps determine the probability of pulmonary embolism, with a score greater than 3 suggesting high risk.
What is the Well’s score?
His favorite person shares a name with a beloved animated SpongeBob SquarePants character (Plankton's robot wife).
Who is Dr. Karen Goff?