Yaz Pulmonary Embolism

Yaz pulmonary embolism poses a unique challenge for doctors. The condition is dangerous and can cause sudden death or long-term lung impairment. At the same time, PE is often difficult to diagnose. Symptoms are not always present, and can vary when they manifest. If you or a loved one has suffered from blood clots please contact us for information on filing a Yasmin lawsuit.

Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in the arteries that supply blood from your heart to your lungs. The blockage is usually caused by a blood clot that has migrated from the deep veins of your legs. Most people who die after suffering PE do so before the blockage can be treated. In many cases, treatment is delayed because the offending clots cannot be easily identified.

The most accurate test for diagnosing Yaz PE is pulmonary angiography. However, the procedure is invasive and exposes you to a risk of side effects. For that reason, most doctors will try to diagnose pulmonary embolism by doing less-invasive tests (i.e. chest X-rays, CT scans, etc.). If such tests are inconclusive and PE has not been ruled out, it may become necessary to perform pulmonary angiography.

Building The Case For Pulmonary Angiography

Your doctor will approach diagnosing pulmonary embolism based on his or her estimate of the likelihood that blood clots exist within your pulmonary arteries. If symptoms are absent and there are no known risk factors (e.g. deep vein thrombosis), testing will begin with chest X-rays. This is merely a preliminary test. It cannot diagnose PE because clots will not show up on the X-rays. However, it can help rule out other factors.

CT scans, d-Dimer tests, and lung perfusion scans are often done to support the doctor’s suspicion of Yasmin pulmonary embolism. However, like chest X-rays, these tests cannot yield a conclusive diagnosis.

Conventional CT scans have been replaced with spiral or helical CT scans. Both use a rotating scanner to build 3-dimensional images of your chest structure in order to help identify abnormalities.

A d-Dimer test is used to note the level of clot-dissolving fibrin particles in your blood. Low levels suggest an absence of clots, thereby lowering the likelihood of PE.

A lung perfusion scan uses trace amounts of radioactive material to examine the flow of air and blood in your lungs. Obstructions can reflect several possible factors, including pulmonary embolism.

Each of the above tests are done to support the doctor’s suspicion of blood clots in your lungs. If he or she is unable to conclusively diagnose PE after doing these tests, a pulmonary angiography may be necessary.

Pulmonary Angiography For Yaz PE

Pulmonary angiography uses a radiopaque contrast dye to identify blockages within your pulmonary arteries. The dye is introduced directly into the affected blood vessel through a catheter. Your doctor will insert the catheter into a vein (typically through your groin) and guide it along your vena cava toward your heart. The catheter is threaded through the right side of your heart and into one of your pulmonary arteries. The dye is then injected into the artery, allowing the arterial structure to be displayed on X-rays.

There are multiple risks associated with using pulmonary angiography to diagnose Yaz blood clots in your lungs. First, the radiopaque dye can cause an impairment in kidney function. While the impairment is usually temporary, the damage can become permanent. Second, the catheter’s presence in your heart can cause temporary arrhythmia and chest pain. Third, the catheter’s insertion site may develop a hematoma as blood accumulates directly below the skin. These risks dissuade doctors from performing pulmonary angiography unless other tests are inconclusive.

Pulmonary embolism is one of many Yaz side effects that have impacted otherwise healthy women. If you have experienced abnormal blood clots or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after using this oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz attorney to discuss your case. You may have the legal right to seek compensation from the manufacturer for your injuries.