The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), or opossum as it is commonly known, is a native mammal in Georgia. Many people are familiar with opossums, but there are several aspects of the opossum with which people are unfamiliar.
pulmonary embolism. A condition in which an embolus (blood clot, formed in a vein) breaks off and blocks a pulmonary artery which supplies blood to the lungs. It can result in pain, breathlessness, and sudden death.
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in your lungs. In most cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or, rarely, other parts of the body (deep vein thrombosis). Because the clots block blood flow to the lungs, pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening. However, prompt treatment greatly reduces the risk of death.