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pulmonary embolism(PE)
obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by an embolus, most often a blood clot swept into circulation from
a large peripheral vein, such as in a lower limb. Symptoms may include rapid or labored breathing, coughing that is sometimes
bloody, and pleuritic pain. Factors that predispose a patient to this condition include: stasis of blood flow (as in a bedridden
or debilitated patient); venous injury (as from surgery or trauma to a part); predisposition to clot formation because of
malignancy or use of oral contraceptives; cardiovascular disease; chronic lung disease; and diabetes mellitus.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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