An acute pulmonary embolism (PE) obstructs the pulmonary vasculature. It occurs when a thrombus migrates into the pulmonary circulation. PE is one of the major causes of reversible cardiac arrest. 

A PE can be fatal during the first 48 hours without medical intervention. Common diagnostic tools for detecting a pulmonary embolism are a nuclear medicine procedure known as a ventilation-perfusion scan and CT-angiography of the lungs. These two imaging modalities combined with serum D-dimer tests are the best diagnostic modalities for pulmonary embolism.

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Pulmonary embolism is one of the major causes of reversible cardiac arrest.