№ 10Pulmonology18 min read
Pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension
1. Big picture
This topic connects acute pulmonary vascular obstruction with chronic pulmonary vascular pressure overload.
| Disease | Core problem | Main danger |
|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary embolism (PE) | Acute obstruction of pulmonary arteries, usually by thrombus from deep veins | Sudden death from acute right ventricular failure |
| Pulmonary hypertension (PH) | Chronic elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure | Progressive right heart failure / cor pulmonale |
Exam pattern:
Sudden dyspnea + pleuritic chest pain + tachycardia ± DVT signs = pulmonary embolism. Progressive exertional dyspnea + loud P2 + syncope + right heart failure = pulmonary hypertension.
PART A — PULMONARY EMBOLISM
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