While several medical conditions can cause a pulmonary infarction, the most common cause ispulmonary embolism.
This article will explore the causes, risk factors, and symptoms of pulmonary infarction.
It also addresses diagnosis and treatment.
Verywell / JR Bee
What Is Pulmonary Infarction?
Aggressive evaluation and treatment are needed.
Causes of Pulmonary Infarction
The most common cause of pulmonary infarction is a pulmonary embolism.
It is now estimated that up to 30% of pulmonary emboli produce at least a small infarction.
Diagnosing Pulmonary Infarction
Pulmonary infarction is often diagnosed as an additional finding when looking for apulmonaryembolism.
This sound resembles rubbing two pieces of leather together.
Without such clinical findings, a small pulmonary infarction may escape detection altogether.
Treating Underlying Disease
Other treatments depend on the suspected underlying cause.
Aggressive treatment must be instituted for sickle cell crisis or infection if those causes seem likely.
Treating Pulmonary Embolism
In most cases, pulmonary infarction is due to a pulmonary embolism.
In these cases, symptoms resulting from the infarction itself may be very mild or nonexistent.
Other causes of pulmonary infarction are far less common.
However, a larger pulmonary infarction can produce significant acute symptoms and long-term problems.
In all cases, a pulmonary infarction requires aggressive medical evaluation and treatment.
2018;10(8):5154-5161. doi:10.21037/jtd.2018.07.87
