Summer BanksEmbolism
November 11th 2006 03:37
Embolism :
An embolism occurs when some part of the circulatory system is either partially or completely blocked by some obstructing mass that has traveled through the system. The occurrence of such an obstruction is called an embolism, whereas the mass causing the embolism is called an embolus.
Types :
Emboli (the plural of embolus) are classified into three major groups:
Solid emboli, which are made up of various substances, such as clumps of tissue, tumor cells, or pieces of blood clots
Liquid emboli, which are made up of globules of fat or amniotic fluid (fluid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus)
Gaseous emboli, made of the various constituents of air.
Causes :
The most common cause of embolism is blood clots from within the heart or blood vessels. Arterial emboli also commonly originate from plaques or other accumulations on the valves of the heart, from aneurysms, and from plaques or clots within arteries. Fat emboli can result from injury to the bones (particularly the long bones of the legs) or from damage to cells in fat tissue. Air emboli can develop if a very large amount of air is admitted during an intravenous infusion or during surgery, especially in operations on the neck or chest (in the latter cases, air enters blood vessels that are open because of the surgery).
Symptoms :
The symptoms vary according to where the embolism occurs. An embolism deprives the affected area of its blood supply, which can cause damage or death of tissue in the area. An embolism in a brain artery may produce the symptoms of a stroke, such as unsteadiness, slurring of speech, and numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg on one side.
Treatment :
Emboli due to blood clots are often treated with anticoagulants (agents that inhibit normal clotting of the blood). Common anticoagulants, such as heparin and warfarin, do not dissolve clots but instead prevent additional clots from forming. There are newer drugs that do dissolve clots but their use is restricted to special situations. If an embolism is in an accessible location, such as an artery in a limb, and tissue is threatened, surgery to remove the clot is the preferred method of treatment to save the limb.
An embolism occurs when some part of the circulatory system is either partially or completely blocked by some obstructing mass that has traveled through the system. The occurrence of such an obstruction is called an embolism, whereas the mass causing the embolism is called an embolus.
Types :
Emboli (the plural of embolus) are classified into three major groups:
Solid emboli, which are made up of various substances, such as clumps of tissue, tumor cells, or pieces of blood clots
Liquid emboli, which are made up of globules of fat or amniotic fluid (fluid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus)
Gaseous emboli, made of the various constituents of air.
Causes :
The most common cause of embolism is blood clots from within the heart or blood vessels. Arterial emboli also commonly originate from plaques or other accumulations on the valves of the heart, from aneurysms, and from plaques or clots within arteries. Fat emboli can result from injury to the bones (particularly the long bones of the legs) or from damage to cells in fat tissue. Air emboli can develop if a very large amount of air is admitted during an intravenous infusion or during surgery, especially in operations on the neck or chest (in the latter cases, air enters blood vessels that are open because of the surgery).
Symptoms :
The symptoms vary according to where the embolism occurs. An embolism deprives the affected area of its blood supply, which can cause damage or death of tissue in the area. An embolism in a brain artery may produce the symptoms of a stroke, such as unsteadiness, slurring of speech, and numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg on one side.
Treatment :
Emboli due to blood clots are often treated with anticoagulants (agents that inhibit normal clotting of the blood). Common anticoagulants, such as heparin and warfarin, do not dissolve clots but instead prevent additional clots from forming. There are newer drugs that do dissolve clots but their use is restricted to special situations. If an embolism is in an accessible location, such as an artery in a limb, and tissue is threatened, surgery to remove the clot is the preferred method of treatment to save the limb.
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