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.

  • Movement of Water and Minerals in the Xylem

    • The formation of gas bubbles in the xylem is detrimental since it interrupts the continuous stream of water from the base to the top of the plant, causing a break (embolism) in the flow of xylem sap.
    • In larger trees, the resulting embolisms can plug xylem vessels, making them non-functional.

  • 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).

  • Platelet Formation

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

  • 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.