What is the Difference Between Pulmonary Embolism and Venous Thromboembolism

The key difference between pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism is that pulmonary embolism is a condition due to sudden blockage of pulmonary arteries that send blood to the lungs, while venous thromboembolism is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. 

Pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism are two associated conditions. This is because venous thromboembolism can lead to two different clotting conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis is a clot in a deep vein, whereas pulmonary embolism occurs when a DVT clot breaks free from a vein wall, travels, and blocks blood vessels in the lungs.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pulmonary Embolism  
3. What is Venous Thromboembolism
4. Similarities – Pulmonary Embolism and Venous Thromboembolism
5. Pulmonary Embolism vs. Venous Thromboembolism in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Pulmonary Embolism vs. Venous Thromboembolism

What is Pulmonary Embolism?

A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in the pulmonary arteries. It can be caused by a dislodgment of a blood clot in the deep veins, air bubbles, or fat embolus, typically stemming from a severely broken bone and tumor. The risk factors for pulmonary embolism include childbirth, long plane or car rides, long-term bed rest, severe injuries, burns or fractures, and surgery. Moreover, the common symptoms of pulmonary embolism may include coughing with blood, dizziness, heart palpitations, leg pain or swelling, sharp or sudden chest pain, and shortness of breath that worsens with exertion.

Pulmonary embolism can be diagnosed through physical examination, medical history, blood tests, chest X-ray, CT pulmonary angiography, Doppler ultrasound, echocardiogram, lab tests such as pulse oximetry, pulmonary angiogram, and ventilation-perfusion. Furthermore, pulmonary embolism can be treated through medications like thrombolytics, anticoagulants, clot removal, inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement, and balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

What is Venous Thromboembolism?

Venous thromboembolism is a condition involving a blood clot that starts in a vein. This condition can be caused by surgery, cancer, immobilization, and hospitalization. The risk factors for this condition include older people, people who are obese or overweight, people with cancer or autoimmune disorders, people whose blood is thicker, and genetic factors that result in excessive blood clotting. Moreover, symptoms of this condition may include swollen and tender legs that are painful to touch, shortness of breath, and pain when breathing.

Venous thromboembolism can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and duplex ultrasonography. Furthermore, venous thromboembolism can be treated through blood thinners such as warfarin and heparin, which prevent clot formation, inferior vena cava filter, and thrombectomy or embolectomy.

What are the Similarities Between Pulmonary Embolism and Venous Thromboembolism?

• Pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism are two associated conditions.
• Both conditions can cause problems in breathing.
• They can cause complications.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests.

What is the Difference Between Pulmonary Embolism and Venous Thromboembolism?

Pulmonary embolism is a condition due to sudden blockage of pulmonary arteries, which send blood to the lungs, while venous thromboembolism is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. Thus, this is the key difference between pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, risk factors for pulmonary embolism include childbirth, long plane or car rides, long-term bed rest, severe injuries, burns or fractures, and surgery. On the other hand, risk factors for venous thromboembolism include older people, people who are obese or overweight, people with cancer or autoimmune disorders, people whose blood is thicker, and genetic factor that results in excessive blood clotting.

The infographic below presents the differences between pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Pulmonary Embolism vs. Venous Thromboembolism

Pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism are two associated medical conditions. Both conditions are due to blockage of blood supply in the body and may result in similar symptoms, such as breathing difficulties. However, pulmonary embolism is a condition that is due to sudden blockage of pulmonary arteries, which send blood to the lungs, while pulmonary thromboembolism is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. So, this summarizes the difference between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary thromboembolism.

Reference:

1. “Pulmonary Embolism.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Thromboembolism.” Science Direct.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Pulmonary embolism algorithm” By Mikael Häggström, M.D. – Own work. References:Daniel R Ouellette. Pulmonary Embolism Guidelines. Medscape. Updated: Jun 21, 2018(2001). “Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism With Use of Computed Tomographic Angiography”. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 76 (1): 59–65. DOI:10.4065/76.1.59. ISSN 00256196. (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Complete organization of thromboembolus with recanalization” By Yale Rosen – (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia