Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a serious and oftentimes life threatening condition that is sadly easily treatable if caught early. The definition of Pulmonary Embolism is a blockage or thrombi in one of the pulmonary arteries of your lungs (Pulmonary Embolism). Most of these thrombi originate in the veins in your lower extremities; though sometimes the thrombi can come from upper extremity veins, renal, pelvic, or right heart chambers, instead. Once in the pulmonary arteries, large thrombi sometimes lodge at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery and cause hemodynamic compromise (Ouellette). The signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism are: abrupt onset of pleuritic chest pain, SOB, and hypoxia; though most patients with PE show no obvious
