Introduction
Multiple factors play a role in the chances of survival after a pulmonary embolism. Special emphasis should be placed on immediate medical care after an embolism, as this significantly improves the chances of survival regardless of the severity of the disease. Of course, the size of the pulmonary embolism also plays a role. The rule of thumb here is: the larger the embolism, the worse the chances of survival. People who suffer from pre-existing conditions in the lung, heart or circulatory system also have a worse chance of survival than an otherwise healthy person.
What is the chance of survival after a pulmonary embolism?
The chances of survival after a pulmonary embolism depend on the severity of the embolism on the one hand, and on the other hand, other pre-existing conditions, particularly in the cardiovascular system, also play a role. Pulmonary embolism is divided into three degrees of severity, which provide information on early mortality after the embolism. There is a low risk (less than 1%) if the circulatory system is not stressed, no signs of cardiac damage can be found in the laboratory values and the blood clot that caused it can be removed quickly.
As triggers of pulmonary embolisms, small to medium-sized thrombi (clots) are usually found here. A medium risk is considered to exist if the early mortality rate is 3 to 15%. In these cases the heart is also affected by the pulmonary embolism.
Either elevated troponin values are found in the laboratory tests or a dysfunction of the right ventricle is detected. In these cases, treatment must be carried out in hospital so that long-term damage can be counteracted early on. The highest degree of severity is associated with an early mortality rate of over 15%.
The circulatory system is directly affected by the pulmonary embolism. This becomes noticeable by a state of shock or extremely low blood pressure. In these cases, the blood clot must be removed immediately by means of blood thinners or surgery.