embólie

Embolie, also known as embolism, is the obstruction of a blood vessel by an embolus that has traveled from another location in the circulation. The embolus may be composed of thrombotic material, air, fat, septic material, tumor fragments, or cholesterol crystals. The blockage disrupts blood flow to downstream tissues, potentially causing ischemia and infarction.

The most common form is thromboembolism, typically arising from deep vein thrombosis or atrial fibrillation. Other types include air embolism, fat embolism after trauma or orthopedic injury, septic embolism from infection, and less frequently emboli composed of tumor cells or cholesterol crystals. Emboli can lodge in arteries or veins, leading to diverse clinical effects depending on the organ affected.

Clinical manifestations vary with the location and size of the occlusion. Pulmonary embolism may cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and tachycardia. Cerebral embolism can present as stroke with focal neurological deficits. Embolism involving the limbs may cause pain, pallor, and pulselessness. Abdominal, renal, or mesenteric emboli can produce localized pain and organ dysfunction.

Diagnosis relies on imaging and laboratory studies tailored to suspected sites, such as CT pulmonary angiography for pulmonary embolism, CT or MRI for brain embolism, and duplex ultrasonography for deep vein thrombosis. D-dimer testing may aid screening, though it is non-specific. Treatment depends on the embolus type and location and may include anticoagulation, thrombolysis, endovascular or surgical embolectomy, oxygen therapy, and management of the underlying cause. Prevention focuses on risk-factor modification and prophylactic measures in high-risk settings.