Thrombosis and Embolism Flashcards

This flashcards aid in understanding the key concepts related to thrombosis and embolism, including their definitions, causes, and clinical significance.

What is thrombosis?

The process of formation of a solid mass in circulation from the constituents of flowing blood.

Where can thrombosis possibly develop?

Arteries, veins, and heart chambers.

Hemostasis and Thrombosis depend upon which components?

Vascular wall, platelets and coagulation cascade.

What are the components of the Pathophysiology of Thrombosis (All Cats Eat Ham Rapidly)?

Endothelial injury, Role of Platelets, Coagulation System, Altered Blood flow, and Hypercoagulability.

What are the main functions of the endothelium layer?

It protects the flowing blood from thrombogenic influence of subendothelium, elaborates antithrombotic factors, and releases prothrombotic factors.

What is important to maintain normal blood flow?

Integrity of the blood vessel wall.

What are the factors involved in thrombi formation?

Endocardial injury in myocardial infarction, ulcerated plaques in advanced atherosclerosis, hemodynamic stress in hypertension, arterial diseases, diabetes mellitus, endogenous chemical agents, exogenous chemical agents such as cigarette smoke.

What is turbulence in relation to blood flow?

Unequal flow.

What is stasis in relation to blood flow?

Slowing of blood flow.

What are hypercoagulable states?

Conditions having increased risk or predisposition to develop thrombosis.

What are primary factors of Hypercoagulability?

Deficiency of Protein C, Protein S, or antithrombin III.

What are secondary factors for Hypercoagulability?

Ageing, prolonged bedrest/immobilization, smoking, obesity, heart disease, vascular disease, tissue damage, shock and late pregnancy

How do arterial and venous thrombi differ grossly?

Tend to be white and mural while the venous thrombi are red and occlusive.

What are lines of Zahn?

Alternate layers of light-staining aggregated platelets admixed with fibrin meshwork and dark-staining layer of red cells.

What are the clinical signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis?

Swelling, pain, skin changes, visible veins, leg fatigue, shortness of breath.

What can arterial thrombi cause?

May cause obstruction at critical sites or embolize peripherally.

What can venous thrombi cause?

May cause congestion and edema or embolize to the lungs.

What is Embolism?

The process of partial or complete obstruction of some part of the cardiovascular system by any mass carried in the circulation.

What are causes of arterial thromboembolism within the heart?

Mural thrombi in the heart, vegetations on the mitral or aortic valves, prosthetic heart valves and cardiomyopathy.

What are causes of arterial thromboembolism within the arteries?

Emboli developing in relation to atherosclerotic plaques, aortic aneurysms, pulmonary veins and paradoxical arterial emboli from the systemic venous circulation.

What are the sites of origin for venous thromboembolism?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower legs, thrombi in the pelvic veins, veins of the upper limbs, cavernous sinus of the brain or right side of heart.

What constitutes fat embolism?

Obstruction of arterioles and capillaries by fat globules.

What are the causes of fat embolism?

Trauma to bones is the most common cause, also burns, diabetes mellitus, fatty liver, pancreatitis, sickle cell anaemia, decompression sickness