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Blood clots |
| Definition: |
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Blood clots (fibrin clots) are the clumps that result from coagulation of the blood. A blood clot that forms in a vessel or within the heart and remains there is called a thrombus. A thrombus that travels from the vessel or heart chamber where it formed to another location in the body is called an embolus, and the disorder, an embolism (for example, pulmonary embolism).
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| Alternative Names: |
| Clot; Emboli; Thrombi |
| Complications: |
| Thrombi and emboli can firmly attach to a blood vessel and partially or completely block the flow of blood in that vessel. This blockage deprives the tissues in that location of normal blood flow and oxygen. This is called ischemia and if not treated promptly can result in damage or even death of the tissues (infarction and necrosis) in that area. |
Reviewed By: Elena Sgarbossa, M.D., Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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