A6 - Thrombosis, Embolism

Question 1

What is thrombosis?

Answer 1

the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside one of your blood vessels or a chamber of your heart.

It is a local development

Question 2

Predisposing factors to thrombosis:

Answer 2

Built upon Virchows triad

The appearance of thrombi depends on:
- Underlying cause
- Location
- Composition

Question 3

What is the Virchows triad?

Answer 3

implicates three contributing factors in the formation of thrombosis:

1. Venous stasis
2. Vascular injury
3. Hypercoagulability

Question 4

What is meant by Venous stasis?

Answer 4

is a condition in which veins have problems moving blood back to the heart

Alterations in the blood flow, typically seen in large and deep veins

Question 5

What is meant by Vascular injury?

Answer 5

injury to a blood vessel:
1. an artery, which carries blood to an extremity
OR
2.an organ
OR
3. a vein, which returns blood to the heart

Question 6

What is meant by Hypercoagulability?

Answer 6

also known as thrombophilia.
It is a medical condition characterized by an increased tendency for the blood to form clots

Question 7

Name the types of thrombus, which is formed by origin:

Answer 7

1. White/pale thrombus
2. Red thrombus
3. Hyalin thrombus

Question 8

What is a white thrombus?

Answer 8

White thrombi are smaller and associated with fibrin infiltration

Question 9

What is red thrombus?

Answer 9

Red thrombi are associated with red blood cell infiltration

Question 10

What is hyalin thrombus?

Answer 10

Happens due to shock. They are small thrombi in the small vessels in the terminal circulatory bed

Question 11

Name the two different types of thrombi:

Answer 11

Mural
Occlusive

Question 12

What is mural thrombus?

Answer 12

They are thrombi that attach to the wall of a blood vessel and cardiac chamber. Mostly a white thrombus

Question 13

What is occlusive thrombus?

Answer 13

The thrombi closes the entire blood vessel. Mostly a red thrombus

Question 14

What is the outcome of a thrombosis?

Answer 14

Several outcomes!
1.Can heal on its own, and we see no consequences and no major vessels are affected.
2. Can lead to organ failure or/and sudden death
3. We can see local or systemic circulatory disturbance by stenosis or obturation

Question 15

What is the fate of a thrombosis?

Answer 15

Scar tissue will replace the area
We can see calcification
We can get thrombo-embolism

Question 16

If a calcification happens, it is called what?

Answer 16

In arteries: Arteriolith
In veins: Phlebolith

Question 17

What is a thrombo-embolism?

Answer 17

Pieces detaching from the thrombus and is being carried by the circulation

Question 18

What is an embolism?

Answer 18

An embolism is an obstruction or blockage in a blood vessel.

Most often, it starts as a blood clot from elsewhere that breaks off and travels through your bloodstream. When a blood clot or another substance becomes an obstacle, it’s an embolism. This keeps blood from moving through a blood vessel and reaching tissues or organs.

Question 19

Give examples of what a embolus/embolism can be?

Answer 19

Solid mass
Gas bubble
Fat droplets
Tumour cells

Question 20

What can cause a embolism?

Answer 20

Trauma
Sudden movements
Inflammation

Question 21

What is the outcome of an embolism?

Answer 21

the kidneys are typically affected.
Locally the embolism can cause infarct
They can cause metastasis of pathogens
Sudden death if the affected area is the lungs or brain

Question 22

what is the difference between thrombosis and embolism?

Answer 22

Thrombosis happens when a blood clot, or thrombus, grows in blood vessels. This can reduce blood flow. An embolus is any foreign material that travels within the body. If it becomes stuck and severely blocks the flow of blood, the issue is called an embolism.