Condition Lookup

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Sub-Category:

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Sub-category: Thromboembolic Diseases

Symptoms:
sudden shortness of breath; chest pain that worsens with breathing; rapid heart rate; coughing up blood; lightheadedness; fainting; leg swelling or pain (indicative of deep vein thrombosis)

Root Cause:
A blockage in the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, typically caused by a blood clot that has traveled from the deep veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through clinical assessment, D-dimer testing, and imaging such as CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

Treatment:
Treated with anticoagulants (e.g., heparin, warfarin, or DOACs) and thrombolysis or surgical embolectomy in severe cases.

Medications:
Anticoagulants like heparin (low molecular weight or unfractionated) and warfarin (vitamin K antagonist); direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as rivaroxaban , apixaban , and dabigatran ; and thrombolytic agents like alteplase in severe cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence in the general population is estimated at 60-70 cases per 100,000 annually; higher in hospitalized and post-surgical patients.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
prolonged immobility (e.g., long flights or bed rest); surgery; trauma; pregnancy; oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy; cancer; obesity; family history of venous thromboembolism

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely diagnosis and treatment; untreated PE has a high mortality rate, but appropriate management reduces the risk of recurrence and complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH); right heart failure; recurrent pulmonary embolism; post-thrombotic syndrome

Thrombophlebitis

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Vascular Diseases

Sub-category: Thromboembolic Diseases

Symptoms:
localized redness, warmth, and swelling along a vein; pain or tenderness in the affected area; a firm, cord-like vein under the skin

Root Cause:
Inflammation of a vein caused by a blood clot, often occurring in superficial veins (superficial thrombophlebitis).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through clinical examination and Doppler ultrasound.

Treatment:
Treated with compression, anti-inflammatory medications, anticoagulants, and in severe cases, vein removal or ligation.

Medications:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen for pain and inflammation; anticoagulants (e.g., heparin , DOACs) for cases involving deeper veins.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in individuals with varicose veins or following intravenous cannulation; superficial thrombophlebitis is less common than DVT.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
varicose veins; prolonged immobility; IV catheter use; pregnancy; cancer; oral contraceptives; clotting disorders

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Usually self-limiting for superficial cases; deeper vein involvement requires anticoagulation to prevent complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
deep vein thrombosis (DVT); pulmonary embolism (if a clot migrates); infection in rare cases