News

Leg Clots May Not Travel to Lungs

TUESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- New research raises doubts about the long-held medical dogma that dangerous blood clots in the lungs, known as pulmonary emboli, originate from clots in the deep veins of the legs or other parts of the lower body, which then break up and travel up through the body.

A study appearing in the October issue of the Archives of Surgery found that 85 percent of trauma patients with pulmonary emboli showed no sign of deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots in the lower extremities.

The lead author of the study, Dr. George Velmahos, chief of the division of trauma, emergency surgery and surgical critical care at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston, said the findings also cast doubt on the use of filters to prevent the clots from traveling.

But an outside expert said the findings need to be received cautiously, at least for now.

"I think it's an interesting report. I wouldn't call it a bombshell", said Dr. Jack Ansell, chairman of the department of medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

CONNECT with Women Interested inPulmonary Embolism

Alison Beaver

Pulmonary Embolism Guide