embolo

Embolo, sometimes written with diacritics as êmbolo in Portuguese or émbolo in Spanish, is most often used in medicine to refer to an embolus. An embolus is a particle or fragment that travels through the bloodstream and can lodge in a blood vessel, causing an embolism. Emboli can be solid, liquid, or gaseous and may originate from a variety of sources.

Common types include thromboemboli (blood clots that travel from another site), air emboli (air bubbles), fat emboli (fat from bone marrow or adipose tissue), septic emboli (infected material), and tumor emboli (cancerous cells). The clinical impact depends on the vessel affected and can range from asymptomatic to life‑threatening.

Embolisms most often cause arterial or venous obstruction. Pulmonary embolism, resulting from a venous embolus reaching the lungs, is a major concern, while arterial emboli can cause ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or limb-threatening ischemia. Risk factors include immobility, recent surgery, cancer, pregnancy, and certain cardiovascular conditions.

Diagnosis and treatment rely on imaging and clinical assessment. Tools such as CT pulmonary angiography, Doppler ultrasound, and D‑dimer testing aid detection, while management may involve anticoagulation, thrombolysis, or endovascular or surgical thrombectomy. Prevention focuses on risk assessment and measures such as compression devices, early mobilization, and appropriate anticoagulation when indicated.

Notable persons with the surname Embolo include Breel Embolo, a Swiss international footballer. The term is also used in medical literature to describe any embolus causing obstruction in the circulatory system.