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A Strange Journey Across the Heart: What is a Strange Embolism?
Emboembolism is a pathological condition in which blood flow is obstructed when a substance (often called an embolus) blocks a blood vessel. Emboli may consist of blood clots (thrombi), fat globules, gas bubbles (gas emboli), amniotic fluid, or foreign material. This condition may cause partial or complete blockage of blood flow in the affected blood vessels and may affect distant parts of the body.
In some cases, embolization is a deliberate medical procedure to stop bleeding or cut off a tumor's blood supply, a treatment called embolization therapy.
Classification of embolism
Depending on where the embolus enters the circulation, we can divide embolism into arterial embolism and venous embolism. The most common type of embolism that forms in the venous system is pulmonary embolism, which is caused by deep vein thrombosis. Arterial embolism may cause blood flow obstruction in any part of the body and is an important cause of tissue necrosis.
When plaques form in the brain, 69% will result in a stroke due to ischemia. This is the result of a clot in an artery traveling from the heart or carotid artery to the brain.
Arterial embolism
Arterial embolism can cause blood flow obstruction in various parts of the body. It is usually caused by a blood clot in the heart (such as a septic embolus formed due to atrial fibrillation or endocarditis). Thrombosis in the left atrium is particularly common in patients with chronic heart disease, and risk factors include age, hypertension, diabetes, and a history of previous stroke.
Venous thrombosis
In normal blood circulation, emboli formed in systemic veins will inevitably enter the lungs, which will cause pulmonary embolism. The most common source of venous thrombosis is the femoral vein, and as the chance of thrombosis increases, the risk of venous thrombosis becomes more prominent.
Singular embolism
In some special cases, emboli in the venous system can cross the heart and enter the arterial blood circulation. This phenomenon is called paranormal embolism. In certain heart defects, such as a defect in the septum between the atria or ventricles, such an embolus may occasionally enter the arterial system.
A patent foramen ovale is present in 20-25% of the adult population, increasing the likelihood of paranormal embolism. For example, an embolus may accidentally enter an artery when a patient coughs.
Direction of embolization
The direction of embolus movement can be divided into two categories: forward movement and backward movement. Progressive embolism refers to the movement of the embolus in the same direction as the blood flow, while retrograde embolism refers to the reverse movement of the embolus in low-pressure blood vessels (such as veins).
Conclusion
Understanding the principles and effects of embolism will not only help improve our understanding of cardiovascular health, but also promote people's demand for and thinking about medical knowledge. Faced with such diverse and complex embolism situations, can we have a deeper understanding of our own heart health and take appropriate preventive measures?
