My case study includes Pulmonary Embolism and Saddle Pulmonary Embolism. The patient I chose was a woman who had just given birth without complications during labor, but had developed a pulmonary embolism which was later confirmed to be a saddle pulmonary embolism. I didn't know before this clinical study, pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of death among pregnant women in the developed world. A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery. The blockage is usually due to a blood clot traveling to the lung from the leg vein. A clot that forms in one part of the body and travels in the bloodstream to another part of the body is called an embolus (NAT13). Pulmonary embolism is a serious condition that can damage the lungs due to lack of blood flow to the lung tissue, which can lead to pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is an increase in pressure in the pulmonary artery. PE can also cause low blood oxygen levels and damage other organs in the body due to lack of oxygen. If a blood clot is very large it can cause death. A pulmonary embolism may also be called venous thromboembolism. PE usually starts as a clot in a deep vein in the leg, which is called deep vein thrombosis. This clot can break off and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs and block the artery. If blood flow is restricted and slows, blood clots can form in the deep veins of the legs. This can happen when you don't move for long periods of time. Some examples that can cause this are certain types of surgeries, during a long car or plane ride, and if you have to stay in bed for a long period of time. In rare circumstances an air bubble, part of a tumor, or other tissue reaches the lungs and causes... half of paper... you should take baby aspirin (81 mg). The sooner a patient takes preventative measures, the less he or she will have to worry about taking other medications like Warfarin, which have many adverse side effects such as excessive bleeding. Patients should continuously monitor their legs for signs and symptoms of DVT.Works CitedHess Dean R., MN (2012). Respiratory Therapy: Principles and Practice 12th Edition. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.Jl, W. (2011). Pulmonary embolism. Goldman's Cecil Medicine 24th edition, 1-4.Mattu, A. (2010). PE in pregnancy: a complicated diagnosis. Medscape, 1-3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2013). What is pulmonary embolism? News and Resources, 5.Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. (2010). Outcomes of saddle pulmonary embolism: a nested case-control study. International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 867-869.