DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's office announced Thursday that the mayor, who was readmitted to Henry Ford Hospital on Wednesday, has an acute pulmonary embolism in each lung.
"Mayor Bing is being treated for acute pulmonary embolism in each lung," said Dr. John Popovich, president and CEO of Henry Ford Hospital and a board-certified pulmonologist with extensive experience and research with this disorder. "After arriving at Henry Ford Hospital, his condition was promptly diagnosed and treated. Pulmonary embolism is often caused by a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the lungs. This condition is treatable with medications called anticoagulants, commonly referred to as blood thinners. The mayor is alert, in good spirits, and expected to make a full recovery with discharge anticipated in a few days."
Popovich was quoted in a news release from the mayor's office.
Dr. Frank McGeorge said the pulmonary embolism can be deadly.
"They can be serious enough to actually, like the NBC reporter David Bloom," Dr. McGeorge said. "Large enough clots cause shortness of breathe, low oxygen level and can actually block any blood flow out of the heart."
Bing, 68, was admitted to the hospital on March 22 after feeling discomfort. He was released on Monday after surgery for a perforated colon.
The mayor returned to the hospital Wednesday afternoon as a simple precaution after experiencing some discomfort.