| embolism, crossed | See Embolism, paradoxical. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| embolism, fat | Embolism caused by fat entering the circulation. It is often seen after fractures of large bones or after corticosteriod administration. (12 Dec 1998) |
| embolism, paradoxical | Passage of a clot (thrombus) from a vein to an artery. When clots in veins break off (embolise) , they travel first to the right side of the heart and, normally, then to the lungs where they lodge. The lungs act as a filter to prevent the clots from entering the arterial circulation. However, when there is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (an atrial septal defect), a clot can cross from the right to the left side of the heart, then pass into the arteries as a paradoxical embolism. Once in the arterial circulation, a clot can travel to the brain, block a vessel there, and cause a stroke (cerebrovascular accident). Because of the risk of stroke from paradoxical embolism, it is usually recommended that even small atrial septal defects be repaired. Also called crossed embolism. (12 Dec 1998) |
| embolite | <chemical> A mineral consisting of both the chloride and the bromide of silver. Origin: From Gr. Something thrown in between. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| embolization | A treatment that clogs small blood vessels and blocks the flow of blood, such as to a tumour. (12 Dec 1998) |
| embolization, therapeutic | A method of haemostasis utilizing various agents such as gelfoam, silastic, metal, glass, or plastic pellets, autologous clot, fat, and muscle as emboli. It has been used in the treatment of spinal cord and cerebral arteriovenous malformations, renal arteriovenous fistulas, gastrointestinal bleeding, epistaxis, hypersplenism, certain highly vascular tumours, traumatic rupture of blood vessels, and control of operative haemorrhage. (12 Dec 1998) |