Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a sudden blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. This blockage is usually caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or, rarely, other parts of the body (deep vein thrombosis). PE is a serious medical condition that can cause permanent damage to the lungs, low oxygen levels in the blood, and damage to other organs due to reduced oxygen supply.
