Embolism

Question 1

5 major types of embolus?

Answer 1

Thrombus
Atherosclerosis 
Fat
Gas
Amniotic fluid

Question 2

What is the characteristic feature of an atherosclerosis embolus?

Answer 2

Cholesterol clefts in the embolus

Question 3

2 clinical features of a fat embolus?

Answer 3

Dyspnea because these fat clots like to go to the lungs and petechiae on the skin

Question 4

What is the concept behind a gas embolus, what are the clinical signs and what is Caisson disease?

Answer 4

Diver goes down and then rapidly comes up and nitrogen precipitates out of blood creating a gas clot basically.
Joint and muscle pain, referred to as bends, and respiratory symptoms referred to as chokes.
Chronic form of gas embolism characterized by multifocal ischemic necrosis of bone

Question 5

Amniotic fluid clot presents with what 3 clinical symptoms and what 2 substances characterize the actual clot?

Answer 5

SOB, neuro symptoms, and DIC because remember amniotic fluid has TF to activate clotting.
Keratin and squamous cells from baby

Question 6

Most common cause of PE, two reasons PEs are clinically silent most of the time?

Answer 6

DVT

Dual supply of blood and usually PEs are small

Question 7

What 2 things do we need for a PE to cause an infarction?

Answer 7

Medium to large embolism and patient having a pre existing cardiopulmonary condition

Question 8

What does the lung look like on gross examination of a PE?

Answer 8

Hemorrhagic wedge shaped infarction.

It is hemorrhagic because blood rendered the dead tissue and it is loose tissue.

Question 9

Why would someone suddenly die from a PE?

Answer 9

Usually due to a saddle embolus that blocks both right and left pulmonary arteries

Question 10

What condition can arise because of chronic emboli?

Answer 10

HTN

Question 11

Systemic embolism is usually do to what and end up where most commonly?

Answer 11

Thromboembolism from the left heart

Ending up in lower extremity