Thromboembolism
Alternate Names : Thromboembolic State
How is the disease diagnosed?
A thromboembolism is diagnosed
based on a person's symptoms. Different imaging tests are done depending on
where the clot is thought to be. An ultrasound test, called echocardiography, can often confirm a blood clot in the heart.
If the person is having any trouble breathing or chest pain, a pulmonary
embolus, is often suspected. In this case, the provider may order:
a chest x-ray to see if areas of the lung have collapsed
a pulmonary ventilation scan to see how gases are being transferred across the lungs
a pulmonary perfusion scan to check the blood supply to the lungs
If a stroke is suspected, the provider may order:
cerebral angiography, which shows the blood supply to the brain
a cranial CT scan
a cranial MRI
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, other tests are often done to figure out what caused the initial blood clot. Blood tests called the prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) are
commonly done to check the blood's ability to clot.
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