Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is blockage of the pulmonary artery (or one of its branches), usually when a vein|venous thrombus (blood clot from a vein), becomes dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs. This process is termed thromboembolism.

Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, pain in the chest during breathing, and in more severe cases collapse, shock and cardiac arrest. Treatment, usually, is with anticoagulant medication, such as heparin and warfarin, and rarely (in severe cases) with thrombolysis or surgery. In other, rarer forms of pulmonary embolism, material other than a blood clot is responsible; this may include fat or bone (usually in association with significant trauma), air (often when underwater diving), clumped tumor cells, and amniotic fluid (affecting mothers during childbirth).

Transsexual women who are on HRT or planning on pursuing HRT as part of, or as a next step in their transition are advised to consult with, and be monitored by medical professionals as there is significant risk of developing pulmonary embolisms. Additionally there is research which indicates those TS who smoke further add to the risk of developing PE's.

See also

• Pulmonary embolism article presented in the Wikipedia
• Trans Communities and Smoking

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