Paradoxical embolism
A paradoxical embolism is a kind of stroke or other form of arterial thrombosis caused by embolism of a thrombus (blood clot) of venous origin through a lateral opening in the heart, such as a patent foramen ovale.[1]
The opening is typically an atrial septal defect, but can also be a ventricular septal defect.
Paradoxical embolisms represent two percent of arterial emboli.[2]
[edit] Pathophysiology
Passage of a clot (thrombus) from a vein to an artery. When clots in veins break off (embolize) , they travel first to the right side of the heart and, normally, then to the lungs where they lodge, causing pulmonary embolism. On the other hand, 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). Also called crossed embolism.
[edit] References
- ^ Rakhit RD (November 2003). "Case 2: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and paradoxical embolism". Heart 89 (11): 1362. doi:10.1136/heart.89.11.1362. PMC 1767929. PMID 18069145. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1767929.
- ^ Tang CE (January 2004). "Paradoxical embolism: a rare life- and limb-threatening emergency". CJEM 6 (1): 40–4. PMID 17433144. http://caep.ca/template.asp?id=45BD6A5280BE4D2B988E701CC522E931.[dead link]
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