Can DVT cause a PE?
A. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot, or thrombus, develops in the large veins of the legs or pelvic area. Only half of those with DVT will have typical symptoms of leg swelling and pain. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, the majority of DVTs are not life threatening. However, if the blood clot breaks loose and travels through the heart to the lung, a condition known as a pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs. If the traveling clot, called an embolus clogs the main lung artery, it can be fatal. In 66% of all DVT cases, PE is the primary cause of death. On average 650,000 PEs occur annually and it is the third most common cause of hospital death.
