Definition The term “embolism” describes the medical phenomenon that carried material is transported via the blood vessel system to another part of the body, where it causes vascular occlusion. The displaced material can, for example, peel off an arteriosclerotic plaque (vascular calcification) or consist of blood clots that have formed in the left atrium. Behind … Embolism
Signs of embolism The signs of embolism vary depending on the location of the embolism. In half of the cases, pulmonary embolism follows deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In embolisms that occlude an artery in the arm or leg, the following six signs of the affected limb are typical: These six signs are very specific for … Signs of embolism | Embolism
Pulmonary Embolism In pulmonary embolism, the embolus typically comes from the deep veins of the leg where a thrombosis has formed (especially when sitting for long periods, e.g. on long-haul flights). The embolus then detaches from the thrombus material in the leg vein, is transported to the heart via the venous system and finally lands … Pulmonary Embolism | Embolism
Stroke Stroke occurs in about 85% of cases due to the occlusion of a cerebral artery or its branches and is then called an “ischemic stroke“. About one-fifth of these cases are caused by an arterial embolus that has developed in the heart: in atrial fibrillation, the atria contract only in an uncoordinated manner.A large … Stroke | 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 … Embolism in the leg | Embolism
