Timely detection of Pulmonary embolism can save life

Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel of the body which then travels to the lung’s artery, causing blockage. The annual incidence rate of this is 0.6/ 1000. Additionally, timely detection is crucial, as nearly 80 percent of cases result in fatality within two hours of clot formation.


The occurrence of PE is less than one per cent; the symptoms are subtle and progress rapidly due to which it is not caught in time, thus leading to a few numbers of patients actually getting timely medical intervention. Also, due to delay in treatment, most of the times they have cardiac arrest and if they survive, they suffer from Hypoxic Brain Damage or eventually their brain function stops and are brain dead.


In one such rare instance of survival from pulmonary embolism (PE), which occurs in only 20 percent of cases, an elderly woman received timely treatment after suffering from PE. She was rushed to the Hospital , and immediately on arrival, she suffered a cardiac arrest & was resuscitated (chest massage, defibrillation i.e. shock.) Upon undergoing tests, we found that there was a clot in the right chamber of her heart, and right-side heart chambers were dilated. She was diagnosed with PE and without Thrombolysis (clot buster medications) the mortality rate of such patients is high. We gave the clot buster injection, and chest compression were delivered for about 40 mins. She was comatose requiring ventilatory support and blood pressure medications. Within four days her health improved, she was oriented, her blood pumping capacity improved and miraculously she had no debility or any major organ damage. She waked out of the hospital without brain damage.


Although this woman's case was rare and exceptional, the primary reason she was able to walk out of the hospital independently was due to receiving timely medical intervention. She was brought in as soon as she showed signs of PE. The usual symptoms of PE are Hypotension i.e. drop in blood pressure, high pulse rate, drop in oxygen levels, and the patient experience breathlessness.


The most common issue faced by patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) is hypoxic brain injury. Hence, clinical judgment, chest compression, and Thrombolysis (clot buster medicine) are most important in such patients. As, if there is a delay in diagnosis and if the chest compression is incomplete, there might be more damage to the brain. Thus, in most cases patients are in vegetative state and ultimately their brain function stops.


In order to avoid suffering from PE, it is important for people to follow healthy habits. One should avoid sitting for long hours; obese patients are at high risk, so they need to work towards healthy lifestyle, early mobilisation after surgery or fracture, and leg exercises during long air travel.


It is crucial to seek medical attention when you see any unusual symptoms as timely medical intervention can not only help prevent a particular illness or health issue from becoming critical, but in serious cases, even death could be prevented.


(Authored by Dr Prashant Pawar, Consultant-Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi)