Tennis star Serena Williams is recovering from a pulmonary embolism and a hematoma resulting from her treatment, according to media reports.
What is a pulmonary embolism? How can something so scary happen to a world-class athlete? Do people fully recover from a pulmonary embolism?
To answer these and other questions, WebMD consulted Shirin Shafazand, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine in the division of pulmonary critical care at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Shafazand has not examined Williams and has not seen her medical records. She commented on publicly available details of Williams' condition and on her extensive experience treating patients with pulmonary embolisms.
What happened to Serena Williams?
Shortly after winning her fourth Wimbledon title last July, Williams cut her foot on a shard of glass. The severe cut required surgery and 18 stitches. Although she played an exhibition match shortly thereafter, continuing problems with the foot has kept her out of competition since then.
According to a statement from her representative in People magazine, Williams was in New York last week undergoing further treatment for her foot injury. She flew back to Los Angeles and apparently suffered a pulmonary embolism during or shortly after the flight.
On Feb. 28, she "underwent emergency treatment" for a hematoma she suffered as a result of her treatment for pulmonary embolism.
Williams is reported to be recovering.
