Pulmonary embolism occurs
when a clot or thrombos associated with deep venous
thrombosis breaks off and travels though blood stream
until becoming lodged in a pulmonary artery. The pulmonary
artery carries venous blood from the heart into the
lungs. Some common symptoms associated with pulmonary
embolism are chest pain and shortness of breath. Pulmonary
embolism is a surgical risk of the radical prostatectomy,
particularly the radical perineal prostatectomy. The
patient is placed in the high dorsal lithotomy position,
which elevates the legs above the head. Blood may move
so sluggishly through the veins in the legs that deep
venous thrombosis is the result. If a piece of the clot
breaks off and lodges in the pulmonary artery, the result
is pulmonary embolism.
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