What Causes Pulmonary Embolism?

Major Causes

In 9 out of 10 cases, pulmonary embolism (PE) begins as a blood clot in the deep veins of the leg (a condition known as deep vein thrombosis). The clot breaks free from the vein and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, where it can block an artery.

The animation below shows how a blood clot from a deep vein in the leg can travel to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism. Click the "start" button to play the animation. Written and spoken explanations are provided with each frame. Use the buttons in the lower right corner to pause, restart, or replay the animation, or use the scroll bar below the buttons to move through the frames.

The animation shows how a clot in a deep vein of the leg can break off, travel to the lungs, and block blood flow.

Clots in the legs can form if blood flow is restricted and slows down. This can happen when you don't move around for long periods, such as:

• After some types of surgeries
• During a long trip in a car or on an airplane
• If you must stay in bed for an extended time

Veins damaged from surgery or injured in other ways are more prone to blood clots.

Other Causes

Rarely, an air bubble, part of a tumor, or other tissue travels to the lungs and causes PE. Also, when a large bone in the body (such as the thigh bone) breaks, fat from the marrow inside the bone can travel through the blood to the lungs and cause PE.