Arterial embolism

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Arterial embolism Circulatory system

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Arterial embolism

EMBOLIZATION IN AN EXTREMITY

• muscle pain in the extremity (see knee pain, foot pain)
• numbness and tingling in the extremity
• pale color of arm or leg
• decreased or absent pulse in the extremity
• decreased extremity temperature, the extremity feels cold to touch
• lack of movement of the extremity
• weakness of the extremity
• muscle spasm in the extremity
• body feels cool (fingers or hands)
• muscle function loss

Symptoms may begin abruptly or slowly depending on the size of the embolus and the extent to which it blocks the blood flow.

Later symptoms:

• blisters develop easily
• skin erosion (ulcer)
• skin necrosis (skin is dark and damaged)
• skin falling off (sloughing)

EMBOLI IN AN INTERNAL ORGAN (see complications)

• Symptoms of ischemia (lack of oxygen) or infarction (tissue death): varies with organ involved. There may be pain and/or temporary decreased organ function.

There may be decreased or absent pulse, and/or decreased or absent blood pressure in the extremity. There may be signs of tissue necrosis or gangrene.

Tests to diagnose arterial embolism or reveal the source of emboli may include:

• a Doppler ultrasound exam of an extremity
• transcranial Doppler
• echocardiography, transthoracic
• transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
• myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE)
• magnetic resonance imaging
• angiography of the affected extremity or organ
• renal arteriography
• extremity arteriography
• plethysmography
• a duplex Doppler/ultrasound exam of extremity

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• isotope study
• platelet aggregation test
• factor VIII assay
• euglobulin lysis time (ELT)
• plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity
• tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) levels

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