RT Book, Section A1 Dudney, Tina M. A1 McCormack, Michael T. A1 Freihage, Jeffrey H. A2 Dieter, Robert S. A2 Dieter, Raymond A. A2 Dieter, Raymond A. SR Print(0) ID 1127169529 T1 Embolic Disorders of the Pulmonary Artery T2 Peripheral Arterial Disease YR 2009 FD 2009 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071481793 LK accesscardiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1127169529 RD 2024/11/12 AB As the initial recipient of the venous circulation, the pulmonary vascular bed is uniquely positioned to filter diverse particulates within the venous circulatory system. The etiology of these circulating particles may be thrombotic, as seen in pulmonary thromboembolism, or nonthrombotic, as encountered in a number of uncommon syndromes including embolism from air, amniotic fluid, fat, tumors, septic foci, and other miscellaneous sources. The pathophysiologic sequelae of these emboli are related to both mechanical occlusion of the pulmonary vasculature and inflammatory mediated damage to the pulmonary microvasculature resulting in capillary leak and pulmonary edema. The intent of this chapter is to describe the incidence, pathophysiology, and clinical features of these varied embolic phenomena and to provide a rational approach to the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.