Embolism in the leg | Embolism

Embolism in the leg

In the case of an embolism in the leg, a blood vessel in the leg is closed by an embolus; doctors call this an “acute arterial occlusion“. 70% of acute arterial occlusions in the leg are caused by an embolus originating in the heart, and about 10% are caused by an arterio-arterial embolism (embolus detaches itself from an atherosclerotically altered arterial wall, is transported into the leg and blocks a vessel there). Due to the vessel obstruction, the leg is poorly or not at all supplied with blood in the section behind it.

The symptoms of embolism in the leg can be explained by the lack of oxygen. The typical symptoms and signs are: Pain, lack of pulses in the underlying part of the leg, paleness, sensory discomfort and/or numbness, motor weakness up to and including paralysis, and possibly affected patients show symptoms of circulatory shock. In the case of an embolism in the leg, it is important that the diagnosis is made quickly and that treatment is started quickly in order to restore blood circulation.

In addition to physical examination, a Doppler ultrasound examination is performed, which can visualize the flow within blood vessels. In cases with residual blood flow, lysis therapy can be initiated (embolus is dissolved by medication), in more serious cases the blood vessel must be surgically recanalized (thrombectomy, embolectomy). After treatment, the patient’s blood clotting is slowed down with suitable medication.

Embolism in the eye

In an ocular embolism, the embolus usually comes from the carotid artery or the left atrium. This embolus occludes the central retinal artery, the central artery of the retina, which leads to blindness of the affected eye after 30 seconds due to the lack of oxygen. There is no pain.The retina can survive for about 60 to 90 minutes without blood flow, after which it is irrevocably damaged.

During the examination at the ophthalmologist, the loss of vision, the loss of the pupillary reflex and during ophthalmoscopy a whitish greyish discoloration of the retina is noticeable. The therapeutic options are poor, one tries to dissolve the embolus by massaging the eyeball and/or by using drugs that inhibit blood clotting. Unfortunately, in most cases there is no improvement, but the affected eye loses its sight. Spontaneous improvement is only possible if the central artery is incompletely blocked.