Embolism
Description of the pathology
Embolism, also referred to as thromboembolism, is a medical condition that entails the blockage of a body artery. The blockage emanates from a blood clot ripped off from another part of the body (embolus) and transported via the bloodstream and lodging in a tiny blood vessel. According to Tarbox and Swaroop (2013, p.69), the blockage limits oxygen flow to vital tissues or stops the proper flow of blood to different organs leading to severe and life-threatening conditions. The main cause of embolism is deep vein thrombosis, where blood clots form in the leg veins. A blood clot can break free and be transported within the bloodstream blocking significant arteries to the brain, lungs, and other organs, causing an embolism in these organs.
Normal anatomy of major body systems affected
Embolism involves the circulatory system of capillaries, veins, arteries, and the heart. Embolism affects two main body organs; the brain and the lungs. A clot in the lungs is referred to as a pulmonary embolism and involves the vessels in the lungs. Blockage of blood vessels supplying the brain with blood causes the strike. Embolism starts at the leg's deep veins and, as such, it can be said it affects the legs. Arteries blockage supplying the heart with blood can lead to heart attack, a life-threatening condition. The central body systems affected by an embolism are the blood, circulatory, respiratory, venous, and nervous. This is because blood vessels supply blood to the heart and lungs, and the blood may have a clot.
Normal physiology of body system affected
Individuals diagnosed with different forms of embolism experience different physiological effects. Patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (PE) have exhibited higher depression and anxiety (Tran, Redley, & de Wit, 2021, p.301). Diagnosis with different embolisms also makes the patients have poor mental health compared with health-related life quality. People diagnosed with embolism have to change their lifestyle, which causes them to lose their identity and experience intrusive thoughts and memories. Young adults diagnosed with venous thromboembolism, a significant cause of embolism, experience impaired mental health due to uncertainty surrounding their long-term health and fear of recurrence (Hjen et al., 2017, p. 2333). Individuals diagnosed with pulmonary embolism exhibit post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and existential anxiety (Tran et al., 2021, p.301). Pulmonary embolism victims experience Postthrombotic panic syndrome or a state of hyper-vigilance for any physical reminders that lead to psychological distress (Tran et al., 2021, p.301). The psychological distress consists of flashbacks, fear of recurrence, and intrusive thoughts, which are common signs of PTSD.
Mechanism of pathophysiology
Respiratory and hemodynamic effects are...
…be administered through the vein or injection. Oral anticoagulant also exists, such as warfarin. The other one is clot dissolvers or thrombolytics. Clots can dissolve on their own, but thrombolytics are administered via the vein to enhance the dissolving of the clot. However, clot dissolvers should only be given in life-threatening situations as clot bursting may lead to severe bleeding.Surgical treatments are also used in embolism. One of the leading surgical procedures used is embolectomy to eliminate an obstruction (Tarbox, & Swaroop, 2013, p.71). The procedure involves the surgeon cutting the affected artery to allow the foreign body triggering the blockage to be sucked out through aspiration. A life-threatening clot in the lung can be removed using a catheter via the blood vessels. A catheter is also utilized to position a filter in the inferior vena cava. The filter is used to stop the clots from reaching the lungs from the legs. Filters are used mainly by individuals who cannot take anticoagulant drugs due to other complications. Other cases are when they have recurrent clots even after taking anticoagulants. The advantage of the filter is that it can be removed if it is no longer required. People need to continue with ongoing care even after treatment and remain on blood thinners to avoid the reoccurrence of a…
References
Højen, A. A., Sørensen, E. E., Dreyer, P. S., Søgaard, M., & Larsen, T. B. (2017). Long?term mental wellbeing of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with venous thromboembolism: results from a multistage mixed methods study. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 15(12), 2333-2343.
Kostadima, E., & Zakynthinos, E. (2007). Pulmonary embolism: pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment. Hellenic J Cardiol, 48(2), 94-107.
Tarbox, A. K., & Swaroop, M. (2013). Symposium: embolism in the intensive care unit. Int. J. Crit. Illn. Inj. Sci., 3(1), 69-72.
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2009). SPECT identifies the physiologic consequence of the clot rather than the clot itself. Adding low-dose CT without contract agent raises the level of confidence in the reading result. At the same time, it reduces inconclusive studies with SPECT alone from 5% to 0% when combined with low-dose CT. Furthermore, specificity improves with fewer false-positive readings from 18% - 0%. Low-dose findings explaining subtle perfusion defects otherwise perceived as
Lumb (2017) points out that postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) happen to be rather common and are associated with increased mortality amongst patients. In the present case, the patient presents with shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, and palpations. The most likely diagnosis in this case would be acute pulmonary embolism. This is more so the case given that as Ouellette (2020) points out, “the classic presentation of PE is the
She should take drugs for rapid onset of symptoms only when called for but drugs that keep her level as time goes on should be taken consistently (Brasher, 2012). Question 11 The girl needs to not mow the lawn anymore or otherwise expose herself to situations that can lead to attacks (Brasher, 2012). 2. Chapter 6: COPD Question 1 The patient should be asked if she is currently smoking, is around someone that is
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