embolism

(noun)

An obstruction or occlusion of an artery by an embolus, that is by a blood clot, air bubble, or other matter that has been transported by the blood stream.

Related Terms

Examples of embolism in the following topics:

  • Fibrinolysis

    • Fibrinolysis is a process that removes clots following hemostasis and clot retraction, preventing uncontrolled thrombosis and embolism.
    • If blood clots embolize to different parts of the body, they can cause tissue death by blocking off blood flow to those tissues.
    • This is a common cause of heart attacks, pulmonary embolism, and strokes.

  • Cerebrovascular Accident

    • This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood flow) caused by blockage (thrombosis, arterial embolism) or a hemorrhage (leakage of blood).
    • A thrombus itself (even if non-occluding) can lead to an embolic stroke if the thrombus breaks off, at which point it is called an "embolus."
    • An embolic stroke refers to the blockage of an artery by an arterial embolus, a travelling particle or debris in the arterial bloodstream originating from elsewhere.
    • It is most commonly due to cardiac pump failure from cardiac arrest or arrhythmias, or from reduced cardiac output as a result of myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pericardial effusion, or bleeding.

  • Anticoagulants

    • A group of pharmaceuticals called anticoagulants can be used in vivo as a medication for thrombotic (clotting) disorders including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
    • These anticoagulants are used to treat patients with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), atrial fibrillation (AF), and mechanical prosthetic heart valves.

  • Scuba Diving, the Bends, and Hyperbaric Oxygenation

    • The increased overall pressure is of therapeutic value when HBOT is used in the treatment of decompression sickness and air embolism.
    • HBOT was developed as a treatment for diving disorders involving bubbles of gas in the tissues, such as decompression sickness and gas embolism.
    • The chamber cures decompression sickness and gas embolism by increasing pressure, reducing the size of the gas bubbles, and improving the transport of blood to downstream tissues.

  • Coagulation

    • An embolism is any thrombosis (blood clot)  that breaks off without being dissolved and travels through the bloodstream to another site.
    • If it obstructs an artery that supplies blood to a tissue or organ, it can cause ischemia and infarcation to those tissues, leading to a pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack).
    • Additionally, endothelial damage caused by immune system factors like inflammation or hypersensitivity may also cause unnecessary thrombosis and embolism.

  • Breathing Patterns

    • It is a common symptom of anxiety attacks, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks, and emphysema, among other things.

  • Blood Supply to the Lungs

    • The most serious issue in pulmonary circulation is a pulmonary embolism, which is where a blood clot travels to the lung and causes an infarction of the lung (tissue death from lack of oxygen).

  • Platelets

    • However, if the number of platelets is too high, blood clots can form (thrombosis), which may obstruct blood vessels and result in ischemic tissue damage caused by a stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or the blockage of blood vessels to other parts of the body.

  • Platelet Formation

    • These include stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or infarction of other tissues.

  • Liposuction

    • More serious possible complications include allergic reaction to medications or material used during surgery, infection, skin necrosis (dead skin), puncture of an internal organ, contour irregularities, thromboembolism and fat embolization, burns, and fluid imbalance.