- As stated, most pulmonary embolisms arise from the deep veins of the lower legs
- The effects of an embolus on pulmonary vasculature depends on the size and duration and also upon the patients other medical problems
- A PE will travel to the lung
- it may lodge at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery (Saddle Embolus)
- it may travel to the lobar branches
- both of these causing hemodynamic instability
- smaller PE may travel distally into smaller branches of the pulmonary tree
- 10% of pulmonary embolisms cause pulmonary infarction, usually in patients with preexisting cardiopulmonary disease
- Most PE are multiple and are located in the lower lobes
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