Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism (thromboembolism) occurs when a blood clot, generally a venous thrombus, becomes dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, pain during breathing, and more rarely circulatory instability and death. Treatment is with anticoagulant medication, such as warfarin.

History

After a trial published in 1960 (Baritt & Jordan), anticoagulation became the most important therapeutic intervention in pulmonary embolism. Barritt and Jordan performed their study in the Bristol Royal Infirmary in 1957. This study rapidly set the pace, considering that no other study of anticoagulation in PE ever had a placebo group (as this would have been unethical). Looking back, the reported mortality rate of 26% may have been an overstatement, given the fact that with the technology of the day, only severe PEs were detected.

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