Pulmonary embolism

Thrombosis is the formation of solid blood formations in blood vessels, such as thrombi or emboli, which cause vascular stenosis and reduce blood flow through the arteries. Blood clots can form in any large veins, in the arteries of the lungs, heart and brain; these conditions are called thromboembolism.

Thrombosis is the process of formation of a blood clot in the veins or arteries, which can lead to life-threatening diseases. One of these diseases is pulmonary embolism (PE).

Thromboembolic lesions occur most often in conditions of increased blood clotting or

**Pulmonary artery thromboembolism** is a dangerous and little-studied condition that occurs as a result of blockage of an artery by a thrombus in the pulmonary circulation. The exact mechanism of development of pulmonary embolism is not fully understood, but it usually occurs in connection with the formation of venous thrombosis in the legs or heart, which leads to the detachment or migration of a blood clot to the lungs. There, a clot blocks one of the pulmonary arteries and can cause serious impairment of pulmonary blood flow and lung function. Symptoms of a pulmonary embolus may include shortness of breath, cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, and loss of consciousness. If the patient does not receive timely treatment, this condition can lead to death. This article will discuss the history of the study of pulmonary embolism, as well as modern approaches to its diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

History of the problem

Pulmonary thrombosis was first described by the English physician and surgeon Thomas Addison in 1659, who called it “fibrilloid” embolism. This definition was changed in the 1920s to "thromboembolism", which is associated with disruption of blood flow in the lungs due to blockage of an artery by a blood clot. Despite this, thromboembolism is now being observed more and more often and is associated with many factors, such as the use of medications, poor lifestyle and medical procedures. Based on the clinical picture and diagnostic results of patients, one could conclude that the disease is very rare. However, statistics show fairly frequent relapses leading to death. To date, there are many types of thromboembolism, differing in different parameters. This is how large and small thromboembolisms are distinguished; the latter are considered the most dangerous. Along with this, there is also a microembolus, which is a bubble, and an ischemic type, which is a fragment of a large thrombus.

In addition, different authors also distinguish between primary and secondary thrombi. According to some experts, a primary thrombus occurs at the level of the pulmonary arteries or deep veins without previous changes in the heart itself. On the other hand, data have emerged on the manifestation of the disease due to pathology of the valves or myocardium. There are reports of various symptoms and conditions that can cause a pulmonary blood clot. Professional athletes, for example, develop cardiogenic shock. The basis of its occurrence is a decrease in the ability of the right ventricle to work in high pressure mode.