Treatments for a pulmonary embolism (a sudden blood clot in a lung artery) may include emergency therapies to break up the clot and medicines to prevent future clots from forming.
In an emergency situation, when a pulmonary embolism is life-threatening, doctors may do surgery to try to remove the clot and/or give you drugs called thrombolytics to dissolve the clot.
If your life is not in immediate danger, your doctor may prescribe anticoagulant drugs that can thin your blood slightly and minimize the risk for developing clots. Since many pulmonary embolisms are caused by blood clots that start in the legs and travel to the lungs, your doctor may also prescribe the use of support hose/compression stockings to keep legs from swelling and keep blood from pooling and clotting.
Continue Learning about Blood Clot (Thrombus)
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