Serena Williams suffers pulmonary embolism - Los Angeles Times

A representative of Serena Williams said Wednesday that the tennis star was treated for a pulmonary embolism, she underwent last week. Here's what that means:

Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot, usually from a vein in the thigh, which breaks off and travels to the lungs. Classic is a person develops a pulmonary embolism, he or she has risk factors for the problem - including pregnancy, oral contraceptives, blood clotting, and obesity - and then settle down for a period of time , to stagnant blood in the legs and a blood clot.

People, long flights and car trips were at risk of pulmonary embolism. Thus, human suffering, which set an injury, a leg. Williams severed tendons in his right foot when she stepped on broken glass in July. It is possible that coagulation contributed to the site of injury to the pulmonary embolism, said Dr. Ralph Brindis cardiologist, president of the American College of Cardiologists.

Another possibility is that blood clots Williams in his arm to compress the subclavian vein, the muscular athlete under the collarbone and first rib where you come from. But Brindis said he was "very surprised" if it was a problem in this case.

Doctors usually treat pulmonary embolism with anticoagulants such as warfarin or Coumadin to prevent clots. Williams can take medication for several months, doctors said.

In some cases, major embolism are initially treated with agents to dissolve the clot. Brindis said that these agents can cause bleeding in other parts of the body that may be the explanation for the treatment of a hematoma - an area of bleeding - as mentioned in the Declaration of Representative Williams.

Dr. Mark Adelman, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center, said that if Williams lungs to fully heal. The length of time to heal, the clot of origin, if she was in her leg or arm, depending on its size and other factors.

Adelman found that for all, rather than the six to 12 weeks, her doctors she play tennis at all. Then Williams would be able to play at a high level, but because the anticoagulant they will more likely bruising and bleeding, they want to avoid the hardest hit during the game

Stay tuned Latimes.com status updates on Williams.