Does DVT Always Precede Pulmonary Embolism?
“Certainly, there are people who have a pulmonary embolism in whom we don’t find DVT,” says Dr. Schuerer. It’s also possible for an entire DVT clot to dislodge and move to the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism without leaving any telltale signs that a DVT was once present in a vein. Also, says Schuerer, clots that cause pulmonary embolism may be harder to find if they are formed in a pelvic vein rather than a leg vein. That said, there are some situations in which a pulmonary embolism may be caused by problems other than a DVT. In these cases, an embolus can be formed by air, fat particles, drops of amniotic fluid in pregnant women, bone marrow released from a broken bone, or even tumors that may have broken into smaller parts. Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism The signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism tend to come on very suddenly. Because a pulmonary embolism affects the lungs, the symptoms are usually lung and breathing related. They include: • A sudden, persistent cough • Bloody
