paradoxical embolism

embolism /em·bo·lism/ (em´bŏ-lizm) the sudden blocking of an artery by a clot or foreign material which has been brought to its site of lodgment by the blood current.

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air embolism  that due to air bubbles entering the veins from trauma, surgical procedures, or severe decompression sickness.

cerebral embolism  embolism of a cerebral artery.

coronary embolism  embolism of a coronary artery.

fat embolism  obstruction by a fat embolus, occurring especially after fractures of large bones.

miliary embolism  embolism affecting many small blood vessels.

paradoxical embolism  blockage of a systemic artery by a thrombus originating in a systemic vein that has passed through a defect in the interatrial or interventricular septum.

pulmonary embolism  obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by an embolus.

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paradoxical embolism

n.

The obstruction of a systemic artery by an embolus that originates in the venous system and reaches the arterial system through a septal defect or an open oval foramen of the heart.