5-Minute Emergency Consult
Pulmonary Embolism
Basics
Description
- The majority of pulmonary embolisms (PEs) arise from thrombi in the deep veins of the lower extremities and pelvis
- Thrombi also originate in renal and upper-extremity veins
- After traveling to lungs, the size of the thrombus determines signs and symptoms
Etiology
- Most patients with PE have an identifiable risk factor:
- Recent surgery
- Major trauma
- Lower limb fractures
- Previous VTE
- MI within previous 3 mo
- Stroke or recent paraplegia
- Malignancy
- Oral estrogen-containing contraceptives
- Age >50 yr
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
- Hematologic risk factors:
- Factor V Leiden
- Protein C or S deficiency
- Antithrombin III deficiency
- Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
- Lupus anticoagulant
Pediatric Considerations
- Thromboembolic disease is quite rare
- Risk factors in children:
- Presence of central venous catheter
- Immobility
- Congenital heart disease
- Trauma
- Malignancy
- Surgery
- Infection
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Citation
Schaider, Jeffrey J., et al., editors. "Pulmonary Embolism." 5-Minute Emergency Consult, 7th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2027. Emergency Central, emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307411/1.2.1/Pulmonary_Embolism_.
Pulmonary Embolism. In: Schaider JJJ, Barkin RMR, Hayden SRS, et al, eds. 5-Minute Emergency Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2027. https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307411/1.2.1/Pulmonary_Embolism_. Accessed July 21, 2026.
Pulmonary Embolism. (2027). In Schaider, J. J., Barkin, R. M., Hayden, S. R., Wolfe, R. E., Barkin, A. Z., Shayne, P., & Rosen, P. (Eds.), 5-Minute Emergency Consult (7th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307411/1.2.1/Pulmonary_Embolism_
Pulmonary Embolism [Internet]. In: Schaider JJJ, Barkin RMR, Hayden SRS, et al, eds. 5-Minute Emergency Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2027. [cited 2026 July 21]. Available from: https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307411/1.2.1/Pulmonary_Embolism_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Pulmonary Embolism
ID - 307411
ED - Barkin,Adam Z,
ED - Shayne,Philip,
ED - Rosen,Peter,
ED - Schaider,Jeffrey J,
ED - Barkin,Roger M,
ED - Hayden,Stephen R,
ED - Wolfe,Richard E,
BT - 5-Minute Emergency Consult
UR - https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307411/1.2.1/Pulmonary_Embolism_
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 7
DB - Emergency Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
