Pulmonary embolism is caused by a clot that will obstruct the pulmonary artery which brings back the red blood because oxygenated from the lungs. This clot almost always results from inflammation of the veins in the legs. It is a real vital emergency.
Last Friday, a 33-year-old photographer died of pulmonary embolism in Saint-Louis (Reunion), when he presented to a doctor a few hours before his death. The secretariat of the cabinet refused him the consultation because his vital was not up to date.
A violent fit of coughing
“We are in the process of mourning,” the deceased’s brother told Clicanoo media. “We do not yet know if we will file a complaint, if we will follow up.”
On June 25, Jonathan suffered a violent coughing fit. Worried, he decides to go see a doctor. His vital card not being up to date, the firm refused him the appointment. The young man, exhausted, then tries to return home, but must stop on the way to recover from a friend. The latter will find him unconscious. When they got there, the emergency services could not do anything.
An investigation was opened, and an autopsy performed on the body of the photographer found a pulmonary embolism.
20,000 deaths per year in France
The abnormal inflammation of our veins is called phlebitis. It is responsible for 20,000 deaths per year in France and is even the third leading cause of death after cancer and heart disease. It is moreover not the phlebitis itself which is responsible for these deaths, but its consequence. The inflamed vein leaves clots in the circulation which will go to block in the lungs, giving what one calls a pulmonary embolism, serious complication which can be fatal.
It is not difficult to recognize a pulmonary embolism. The one who suffers from it is very abnormally short of breath, often feels a pain in the chest which makes him fear a heart attack; his heart is pounding and it is not uncommon for him to cough up blood. It is an emergency that requires calling for help for immediate hospitalization. If taken in good time, the embolism shouldn’t really be a problem. As long as the clot dissolves quickly.
.
