What exactly is an embolism?
Embolism is defined as the phenomenon of migration or displacement of any intravascular element, generally a thrombus or clot, which ends up stopping at some point of the vascular tree causing circulatory obstruction. It can occur in the arterial or venous territory.
The most frequent arterial ones are those that occlude cerebral arteries, causing stroke or cerebral infarction, or those that end up in the extremities, causing limb ischemia. Their origin is usually cardiological, associated with atrial fibrillation or lesions of the arteries themselves, such as the carotid arteries that supply the brain. Of those of venous origin, the most dreaded is pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) from venous thrombosis of the legs.
How can it be prevented?
The best way to prevent is to detect and treat the possible sources or origins of embolism. In the arterial case, detecting and treating arrhythmias or cardiac valvular heart disease or carotid stenosis; in the venous case, detecting venous thrombosis of the legs.
To detect arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, it is necessary to perform an electrocardiogram at any sensation of palpitations or dizziness. Valvulopathies, or malfunctioning of the heart valves, are detected with echocardiography. Blood anticoagulation is useful to avoid embolisms of these origins. Carotid stenosis is detected with Doppler ultrasound. The use of antiplatelet drugs and correction of risk factors such as smoking, hypertension or hypercholesterolemia are necessary to avoid stroke. In some circumstances, interventions are necessary to correct these foci.
Venous thrombosis of the legs is detected by Doppler ultrasound after sudden swelling and pain in the limb. Anticoagulation is also its treatment to prevent pulmonary embolisms.
What are the consequences in most cases?
The consequences can be serious or very serious. We are talking about the possibility of being disabled by a stroke or endangering a limb or not being able to breathe (pulmonary embolism). Depending on their severity or extent, they can even be fatal.