| 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) |
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| tumour embolism | Embolism by neoplastic tissue transported from a tumour site and which may grow as a metastasis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fat embolism | <orthopaedics> The occurrence of fat globules in the bloodstream following fracture of a long bone, in burns, in childbirth or in association with fatty degeneration of the liver. Symptoms occur when fat globules block vessels within the lung (i.e. Pulmonary embolism) or the cerebral vasculature (i.e. Stroke). Fat embolism after bone fracture generally occurs in the first 3-4 days post fracture and commonly manifests with the signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism. (27 Sep 1997) |
| lymph embolism | Lymphogenous embolism, embolism occurring in a lymphatic vessel. (05 Mar 2000) |