﻿ Blood Clots Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What types of conditions are caused by blood clots (DVT and pulmonary embolism)? - MedicineNet

Blood Clots

Blood Clots


Blood clots may cause life-threatening medical conditions, and are always considered in the differential diagnosis of any symptoms or signs. Differential diagnosis is the list of potential causes of a patient's condition, that is considered by the healthcare provider when caring for a patient and listening to them describe their signs and symptoms.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)may lead to a pulmonary embolism.If there is a blood clot or thrombus in a deep vein, it has the potential to break off (embolize) and flow through the veins back through the heart, and into the lung where it can become lodged in a pulmonary artery, which prevents the lung from functioning. Pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency and can cause serious illness or death.

An embolus is the medical term for a blood clot that has moved within the bloodstream to a different location. With pulmonary embolus (pulmonary embolism), two issues occur.



Reviewed on 2/27/2015

