Symptoms of pulmonary embolism
The symptoms of pulmonary embolism generally depend on the size of the blocked artery. About 30-50% of all embolisms are asymptomatic. Particularly smaller embolisms usually proceed without clinical symptoms or are accompanied by short-term coughing.
Large acute embolisms lead to sudden onset of severe symptoms. These symptoms are clinically most often accompanied by acute shortness of breath and an increase in heart rate of > 100 beats per minute at rest. But sudden chest pain, especially during inhalation, anxiety and feelings of anxiety also occur in about 60% of cases.
The lack of oxygen is noticeable in the form of blue discoloration, especially of the lips and fingernails (cyanosis). About half of all patients report coughing with partly bloody sputum. Mostly rales are audible with a stethoscope.
In some cases there is congestion of the neck veins. In rare cases sweating, short loss of consciousness and a drop in blood pressure up to shock symptoms may occur. If the embolus does not dissolve completely, but in stages, the above-mentioned symptoms occur in relapses.
In some cases, deep vein thrombosis of the legs can become symptomatic. This manifests itself in a strong feeling of tension and pulling pain similar to a sore muscle in the affected leg. In addition, the leg can swell, become warm and is sensitive to pressure over the affected veins.
The typical triad with swelling, pain and cyanosis (oxygen deficiency with blue coloration) occurs in only about 10% of all cases. In contrast, the majority of all fatal embolisms occur in relapses. Based on the symptoms, pulmonary embolism can have 4 degrees of severity, depending on the artery affected.
- In recurrent dizzy spells,
- Brief loss of consciousness,
- Unclear fever and
- Heart rate increases.
- Severity 1 usually without symptoms
- Severity 2 with acute shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations
- Severity 3 Second degree symptoms in combination with unconsciousness and cyanosis
- Severity 4 Circulatory shock with cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation
