Embolism - what is it? Embolism: types

There are many processes that are harmful to the human body. One of them is embolism. This condition may not only harm normal life, but also lead to death. The most dangerous are pulmonary embolism (PE), blockage of blood vessels of heart and brain. All these conditions lead to severe disorders and can cause death in patients. Embolism-a condition which is very difficult to diagnose that's why doctors often do not notice this process. The consequences to which it leads, in most cases come immediately, because of what first aid is not always possible to provide. The cause of embolism can be different, most often it is the diseases of the cardiovascular and circulatory system, obesity. Sometimes this process occurs as a result of injuries.

Pulmonary Embolism – what does it mean?

The pathological condition involves the closure of the lumen of a vessel and any substance which is transferred through the body by the bloodstream. In Greek language "embolus” – “invasion” or “insert”. Occlusion of the vessel occurs regardless of what kind of material is in the lumen. The embolus may serve as thrombus, air, fat droplets, and even amniotic fluid. All this interferes with normal blood flow, resulting in a lack of oxygen in body tissues-hypoxia. This process can lead to ischemia of any organ. The greatest danger is embolism of the artery supplying blood, the lungs, brain or heart. In addition, foreign substances may get into the lymph vessels, disrupting the outflow and the resulting diseases. The consequences of this pathological condition will depend on the caliber of the artery or vein, and the size of the embolus. Treatment shall be the cases when the damaging particles are small or close the lumen of the vessel is not full.

Recommended

A tablet from worms – the relevance of the application for the person

How relevant today, drugs against worms in humans? What kind of creatures these worms, what are modern methods of treatment? We will try to answer these questions, since ignorance in this area is undesirable. Imagine a mummy, which is misleading in k...

What to do if you cracked skin on hands?

Each of us at least once in a lifetime encounter with a small, but very, when the crack the skin on the hands. At this time there are wounds of different sizes, which hurt and cause inconvenience, especially when in contact with water or detergents. ...

Spray Macho man - the key to a proper relationship between the two spouses

Male impotence is a pathological condition associated with abnormal physiological capacity of the penis to reginout and bring sexual partner pleasure in bed.sex impotenceimpotence may not men to pass unnoticed – it usually spoils his nervous sy...

Causes of embolism

Depending on what substance is transported by blood flow, there are several varieties of emboli. Each of them in turn has a certain mechanism of development and etiology. The most common is thromboembolism, which occurs in people suffering from congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction or bleeding in the brain (stroke). Most of this species exposed to patients who have varicose veins of the lower extremities, hemorrhoids, arteriosclerosis.

Another common pathological process – gas embolism. The reason for its occurrence is the sudden change of pressure. The exogenous factors leading to embolism, can be attributed to injuries, which in the gleam of the vessels enters the air, pieces of tissue, fat, bone fragments. For more rare reasons include cases where a substance that leads to narrowing of the vessel lumen becomes microbial particles, parasites as well as tumor cells disintegrated.

What is an amniotic fluid embolism?

These are common in obstetric practice is rare. Amniotic fluid embolism refers to dangerous conditions and often leads to death. The causes can be: previa or abruption, abnormal development of the fetal membranes. Risk factors include polyhydramnios and prolonged birth process. Also embolism may occur during cesarean section. The mechanism of its development is penetration of amniotic fluid into the maternal bloodstream. After that, the particles of the amniotic waters (meconium, cheese-like grease) fall into the right atrium, and then into the pulmonary artery. As a result, the amniotic fluid embolism develops by the same mechanism as pulmonary embolism. The difference is that occlusion of the vessel is not cut off by a blood clot, and the elements of meconium or droplets of fat.

The Mechanism of development of gas embolism

Gas embolism – it is also one of the causes of impaired blood flow through blood vessels. This condition is an integral part of decompression sickness, which affects people who spend time at high altitude or under water. The increase in pressure leads to changes of blood gas composition, in particular to the accumulation of large amounts of nitrogen. Embolism can occur if a person abruptly returns to the initial level. As a result, the accumulated nitrogen enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. Normally, the gas needs to stand out easy, but this process is gradual, it is necessary to keep in mind when lifting up and lowering down into the water.

Thromboembolism vessels: causes

The Most common cause of embolism are the brain vessels. They appear as a result of violations of the endothelium and blood coagulation. Most of all thrombosis-prone patients with varicose veins, heart disease. The development of this type of embolism often associated with a history of heart attacks and strokes, as these patientsoccurs due to thickening of the blood rheological disorders. The mechanism of lesion is a separation of thrombotic masses from the vessel wall. They act as embolus. The detached part of the clot gets into the blood stream, closing the lumen and causing hypoxia.

Clinical picture of the development of embolism

The condition of the patient when the embolism depends on what kind of vessel occlusion occurred. If it's a main artery or vein, the prognosis is often unfavorable. The most dangerous are vascular lesions of the heart, lungs, brain, neck. Embolism can cause violation of blood supply of any organ, this will depend on symptoms. With the defeat of vessels of the extremities are numb and cold, may develop gangrene. In embolism of the arteries of the heart or brain it can cause infarction or stroke, which are characterized by severe pain and impaired consciousness. If pulmonary embolism develops cough, sharp pain and dyspnea, which often lead to death.

Principles of treatment of embolism

Any embolism – this condition that requires immediate treatment. However, the approach to each of this pathological process is the same. Treatment should be aimed at preventing the spread of emboli in major vessels. With this purpose the arteries and veins, causing the blood flow to the affected area temporarily stops. In addition, produce surgical removal of damaging substances. Thrombosis and embolism, developing on their background, need to be medicated. With this purpose, drugs that promote blood thinners (means "Heparin") and fibrinolitiki (the drug "Urokinase"). For prevention of embolism in patients with cardiovascular pathologies it is necessary to use antiplatelet agents (drug, "Aspirin"), as they prevent the formation of blood clots.