Air embolism is a serious disease

By the name of embolism is understood the formation of any large moving clots or defects in the blood vessels. Air embolism appears as a result of air bubble penetration into the bloodstream. This vesicle moves along the artery, after which it moves through smaller blood vessels, which eventually narrow into capillaries. At some point, air embolism blocks arteries, thus stopping the flow of blood into different areas of the body. This phenomenon is often observed with the rapid emergence of a person after a deep-water immersion on the water surface. In this case, the body can not cope with the withdrawal of excess nitrogen from the blood, and forms air bubbles in tissues and blood vessels. These nitrogen bubbles cause a koson disease (decompression). In this state, a fatal outcome may occur , especially if a large bubble of gas penetrates the heart muscle. At the same time, blood flow from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs stops. Arterial air embolism sometimes occurs as a result of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and other surgical interventions in blood vessels. Air entering the arteries can lead to a fatal outcome in case of blockage of the coronary and cerebral arteries.

In addition to the embolism that arises in the arteries, venous air embolism can occur, which is a consequence of the introduction of air bubbles intravenously. It also poses a threat to the life of the patient, as it can block the pulmonary blood flow.

Symptoms of air embolism during decompression are:

- pain in the joints;

- weakness in the limbs;

- dizziness;

- severe fatigue;

- Numbness and tingling in the limbs;

- skin rash and loss of consciousness;

- In severe cases - complete paralysis.

Most often, the emergence of a large air embolus in the arteries of the brain results in immediate loss of consciousness and often causes seizures. In this condition, the likelihood of a stroke is high. Air embolism in the heart or coronary arteries feeding the heart can cause a heart attack. It causes and extensive embolism in the arteries of the brain.

A serious threat to health is represented by pulmonary embolism - the embolism of blood vessels located in the lungs. It causes severe pain in the sternum and a complication of breathing. Embolism of the lungs can be caused by sudden embolism of the pulmonary artery. This condition is a common and serious complication in the respiratory system of patients.

An embolus can become a thrombus (blood clot), but also they can become:

- Fat (for some fractures, the mass of bone marrow fat sometimes penetrates through the damaged vessels into the bloodstream and clogs the vessels in the area of their approach to various tissues, in particular, to the brain and lungs, drug embolism occurs by injecting oil solutions intramuscularly or subcutaneously with accidental penetration Needles in a blood vessel);

- Amniotic (amniotic) fluid during pregnancy;

- foreign body (with injuries);

- Bone marrow;

- parasites, microbes, fragments of a cancerous tumor.

The likelihood of a fatal outcome in pulmonary embolism depends on the size of the embolus, its diameter and the number of blocked pulmonary arteries. An important factor is the overall health of the patient. At various serious diseases of lungs and heart embolism is most dangerous. If embolism occurs in the main trunk of the pulmonary artery, death can occur within 1 hour.

Approximately 50% of all patients with pulmonary embolism, who were not given timely care, have a second embolism. In 50% of such cases, this relapse threatens the patient's life. The most effective means, which reduces the likelihood of recurrence, is the use of anticoagulants (drugs that reduce blood clotting).

The urgency of the embolism problem is due to the severity of the disease, a high mortality rate and difficulties in diagnosing such a complication.

Treatment of patients with embolism is carried out in the intensive care unit. If you suspect a disease, you need immediate hospitalization of the patient.