Types of Embolisms

Previously published on Factoidz.com

An embolism is a blood clot or some other particulate or object in the blood that stops blood flow. An embolism can be composed of air, plastic, fat, cholesterol or cells found in amniotic fluid. This article will discuss some of the different types of embolisms and who is at risk for them. The symptoms of an embolism may vary depending on what type of embolism it is and where it is located in the body.

An embolism cuts off the blood flow to a certain part of the body. When a blood clot breaks free and enters circulation it is called an embolus. When there are two or more blood clots in the blood stream they are called emboli. An embolism can cause a heart attack, stroke, headaches, and vision and speech problems. Other symptoms of an embolism are coughing, chest pain, dizziness, and paralysis. If you have a clot in an extremity, you may not feel a pulse below the clot, because the circulation has been blocked.

As mentioned earlier, there are different types of embolism. Pulmonary embolism is probably the most well known of all the types of embolisms. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blockage occurs within the major artery of the lungs. A pulmonary embolism can be acute or chronic. An acute pulmonary embolism can be deadly.

We don’t hear much about foreign body embolisms; they occur when any particle of a foreign body enters into the blood stream. For instance, magnesium trisilicate, commonly known as talc, can enter the blood stream when an IV drug user uses drugs inappropriately. Some IV drug users will crush up and liquefy tablets and inject themselves with it. The tablets may contain talc and cellulose which could cause a foreign body embolism.

A foreign body embolism could contain a tiny bit of plastic. People who have to have long term IV therapy need to have the IV catheter changed every 48 to 72 hours, depending on the recommendations of the company or the policy of the medical facility. There is a possibility that a tiny piece of the catheter could erode and enter into circulation. Another reason IV needles and catheters need to be changed is to prevent phlebitis, which can cause a blood clot to occur.

An amniotic embolism is quite rare, but the debris in the amniotic fluid can enter into maternal circulation. The amniotic fluid contains bits of hair, skin cells and other debris; during childbirth a bit of the debris can enter into maternal circulation. This is a life threatening situation. I have only seen this happen once in my career as a nurse, and the mother died.

Scuba divers may be at risk for an air embolism. When divers swim very deep and resurface too quickly, the gases in the blood can boil. This condition is called decompression sickness. Another name for this condition is the bends. When the bubbles form in the blood stream, they can block circulation.

There are other types of embolisms, such as fat and cholesterol embolisms. There are also septic embolisms and thrombo-embolisms. Embolisms of any kind can be life threatening. There may be no way to prevent all forms of embolisms, but living in a healthy lifestyle may be able to prevent some of the conditions that may lead to some forms of blood clots. Many people who have had an embolism before have to wear anti-embolism hose to help prevent further blood clots from forming.

The treatment options for people with an embolism depend on where it is and the size of the blood clot or obstruction. Sometimes the treatment involves thrombolytic medications which are used to dissolve a clot. Anticoagulants, such as Coumadin may also be given. If the situation warrants it, the individual may also need to have an embolism surgically removed.

Sources:

http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/full/174/6/1499

http://www.medicinenet.com/deep_vein_thrombosis/article.htm