Blood clots are natural responses to different types of trauma to out body. When you get a cut, the scab that forms is a clot your body forms to stop bleeding. Some clots, like those that form inside the body, can be dangerous. See, for example, prior blog posts regarding pulmonary embolism, strokes, and deep vein thrombosis. Clots may also disrupt blood flow to extremities – our arms and legs – leading to severe and permanent injury.
Avid readers of our blog may recall what an embolus is a blood clot that disrupts downstream flow of blood. Without a supply of blood, the downstream tissue may start to die. Once the tissue starts to die, a patient will irretrievably lose function to that part of their body. Arterial thromboembolisms, for example, are often found in the legs. If the clot in the patient’s leg is big enough, and left untreated for long enough, an unfortunate patient may lose function in their toes, parts or all of their feet, or even their entire lower leg. While a number of treatments are indicated to resolve the blockage, sometimes amputation is the final treatment for some patients.
So, what are the risk factors for arterial thromboembolism? Many of these are the same risk factors as those for DVT or stroke: a history of smoking, hypertension, recent surgery, obesity, heart disease, use of certain oral contraceptives, or sedentary lifestyle, to name a few.
The symptoms for an arterial thromboembolism include pain, often with sudden onset, in the affected limb, altered sensation to the affected area (again, more typically a leg), the affected area will feel cool, or appear blue or mottled in appearance. If an embolism is suspected, the provider may order an angiogram look for abnormalities in the veins, a doppler ultrasound, which shows blood flow direction and velocity, or an MRI. If a clot is discovered, a blood thinner, such as heparin will be administered to break the clot apart, and the patient will be closely observed. If all goes well, the clot will dissolve, and the patient will be followed with blood thinner. If the clot is large, however, surgery may be necessary to extract or bypass the clot. If successful the patient will similarly be put on blood thinner and followed.
