A stroke broke off a blood clot. Thrombus detachment: types, causes, symptoms and consequences of acute conditions

Blood tends to clot, but this happens when the vessels are damaged, which helps prevent severe blood loss. However, for various reasons, it can coagulate right in the vessels. In this case, blood clots form, which narrow the lumen of the vessel and create obstacles to the normal outflow of blood. Sometimes such clots resolve themselves, in other cases they can come off the walls at any time. A blood clot that has separated from the walls of a vessel, a “wandering thrombus” or “embolus”. If a blood clot, it can get into the blood vessels of the internal organs and disrupt their functions. This could end badly.

Sometimes the embolus enters the vessels of the lungs and clogs them. This condition is called pulmonary embolism. It will be manifested by a sudden appearance, dizziness, a feeling of lack of air, pain, hemoptysis, loss of consciousness. When these symptoms appear, you need to call an ambulance. If the clot is large, it can lead to instant death.

Prevention of the formation and separation of blood clots

The formation of blood clots occurs in the walls of the veins, this disease is called thrombophlebitis. Thrombophlebitis may appear after any trauma, surgery, after some infectious diseases, as a complication. Most often it appears in the lower extremities. The causes of blood clots also include increased blood clotting, existing varicose veins. In most cases, these patients experience venous thrombosis.

For prevention, it is necessary to follow the rules of a healthy diet, lead an active lifestyle, maintain normal blood viscosity. You need to follow a diet that restricts animal fats. In the diet, you should increase the amount of vegetables and fruits, herbs, fish. It is recommended to use foods that reduce blood clotting (beets, cherries, tea). To maintain normal blood viscosity, you can take Aspirin or Warfarin. To prevent the formation of blood clots, the doctor must prescribe anticoagulants - drugs that slow down blood clotting. These medicines should only be taken after consulting a doctor.

To prevent the formation of blood clots, you need to devote at least half an hour to physical exercises every day, or you can just walk on foot.

To prevent pulmonary embolism, a surgical operation is performed, in which anti-embolic filters, shaped like an hourglass or umbrella, are installed in the lumen of the inferior vena cava. This method is safe and fairly reliable, but it can lead to the appearance of trophic ulcers. Blood clots can be removed, for this purpose a surgical operation is performed - thrombectomy.

Quite often you can hear that the cause of death of a person was a detached blood clot. Let's try to figure out what the phrase "a blood clot came off" means, and why this phenomenon is so dangerous.

Causes of blood clots

A blood clot is a blood clot that forms in the blood vessels or cavity of the heart. Most often, blood clots form due to damage to the vessel membrane, slow circulation and increased blood clotting. In most cases, deep veins of the lower extremities are prone to thrombosis.

Also, the formation of blood clots can be a complication after surgery if the patient is in a stationary position for a long time.

Reasons why a blood clot breaks off

It is impossible to say why blood clots break off at one time or another, but two basic conditions are necessary for this:

Free and fairly fast blood flow. The speed must be sufficient to tear off the clot.
Free location of the thrombus inside the vessel. Such blood clots most often form in the veins of the legs and the cavity of the heart.

Thrombi that form in small vessels and completely clog them, in most cases do not pose a threat to life, since there is no blood flow that can displace them from the place of formation. But blood clots that form in large veins or arteries can break off and begin to migrate through the circulatory system, causing blockage of large vessels, pulmonary embolism, stroke or heart attack, and often cause death.

Thrombi are distinguished, depending on their size and position:

Parietal. Formed on the wall of the vessel, but does not completely block the blood flow.
Occlusive- completely clogging the vessel and preventing blood flow.
floating- when a blood clot is attached to the vessel wall on a thin stalk. Such a thrombus can very easily come off, and most often it is he who causes blockage of the pulmonary artery.
Wandering- detached thrombus, freely moving bloodstream.

Symptoms of a detached blood clot

Signs of separation of a blood clot can vary greatly and depend on which vessel was damaged.

If a blood clot breaks off in the head

If the artery of the brain is affected, the detachment of a blood clot can provoke a stroke. In this case, there may be a violation of the symmetry of the face, problems with speech, swallowing food. Also, depending on how serious the lesion is, there may be a violation of sensitivity, motor activity, paralysis. When a vein that supplies blood to the brain is blocked, pain in the neck, headaches, and blurred vision are observed.

Damage to the coronary arteries

Myocardial infarction develops, there are acute pains behind the sternum of a pressing, squeezing, baking character, which can radiate to the limbs. Forecasts in such a situation, as a rule, are unfavorable.

Thrombus separation in the intestine

With blockage of the intestinal vessels, abdominal pain occurs, and later - peritonitis and intestinal necrosis.

Thrombosis of the arteries of the arm or leg

The phenomenon occurs when a blood clot breaks off and blocks the blood flow in the limb. As a result, the blood flow stops, at first the limb becomes paler and colder than in the normal state, tissue necrosis and gangrene subsequently develop. The process is not instantaneous, therefore, thrombosis of the extremities, in principle, can be treated with surgical methods. When the veins of the extremities (usually the legs) are blocked, they turn red, swell and hurt a lot.

Pulmonary embolism

Occurs when a detached blood clot, usually from the veins of the lower extremities, reaches the lungs and blocks the lumen of the pulmonary artery, as a result of which the body's oxygen supply is stopped. Such a lesion usually occurs suddenly, without any preliminary symptoms, and in most cases ends in death.

How a blood clot forms and what to do if a blood clot breaks off - what could be the consequences

Many have probably come across at least once in their lives with the concepts of “thrombus”, “thrombosis”, but not everyone has the right idea about this phenomenon.

Thrombus is pathological blood clot in a living organism. which is located in the cavity of the heart or the lumen of a blood vessel.

It occurs due to a violation of the function of blood coagulation. For the appearance of a thrombus, it is necessary that the wall of the vessel be damaged from the inside or that there is an atherosclerotic plaque.

In the initial stages, the thrombus "does not give" any physiological signs, but its untimely detection can lead to death.

Primary thrombus is a fibrin thread that is deposited on the altered vessel wall. Then thrombotic masses are superimposed on it, the clot grows. Upon reaching a critical size, the thrombus breaks off and blood flow stops.

Causes of blood clots

There are three main reasons why a blood clot forms and in many cases comes off:

Damage to the vessel wall(mechanical trauma, inflammatory processes, damage to the inner wall by bacteria, toxins, viruses);
Improper functioning of the blood coagulation function(activation of coagulants and provoking platelet aggregation - attachment to each other). Basically, this process is associated with congenital abnormalities in the development of platelets, although sometimes changes occur at the chemical level (after exposure to bacterial, viral cells, taking certain medications);
Deceleration of blood circulation(associated with squeezing of arteries and veins, varicose veins, increased blood density).

Blood clots can form in any part of the circulatory system - in the veins, arteries, and even in the heart. The above reasons are applicable in each case.

However, there are still specific factors that affect only a certain part of the circulatory system.

Causes of blood clots in the arteries

The main factor in the formation of a blood clot in the arteries is obliterating atherosclerosis.

Cholesterol and lipids (fats) are deposited in the inner lining of the artery.

Around these accumulations, the lining vessel begins to be replaced (gradually) by connective tissue, which then forms an atherosclerotic plaque. The plaque is perceived by the body as a kind of defect that needs to be “removed”.

Fibrin clots and platelets are deposited on its surface, gradually forming a thrombus - at first fragile and soft, with time it thickens.

This process occurs in most people, but at different rates.

Blood clot in veins

Cholesterol cannot be found on the walls of the veins, since this substance enters the arterial blood. Venous thrombi are formed due to specific damage to the vessel wall: thrombophlebitis and phlebothrombosis.

Thrombophlebitis - the occurrence of a blood clot in the inflamed part of the vessel (inflammation can be caused by infection, chemical agents, defects in venous valves, varicose veins ...).

Phlebothrombosis - a blood clot forms without symptoms of inflammation.

If the heart is damaged

The main factor is slowdown in blood flow. This is possible, for example, after a myocardial infarction (part of the heart tissue dies, is replaced by connective tissue). Often, blood clots form after heart surgery (such as valve insertion).

If a blood clot breaks off in the heart, it almost always means death.

Who is most educated

At risk includes:

Also at risk are people with certain diseases:

atherosclerosis;
varicose, heart diseases;
diabetes;
thrombophilia ("supercoagulability" of blood);
obliterating endarteritis (chronic inflammation of the artery wall);
acute rheumatic fever (which affects the heart valve);
flickering arrhythmia.

Classification of formations

Depending on location in vessel:

parietal (one end is attached to the wall, blood flow is maintained);
extended (kind of parietal, but rather long);
lining (lining almost the entire wall of the vessel, a small lumen is sufficient for blood flow);
central (located, respectively, in the center, attached to the walls with cords, blood flow is limited);
clogging (clogs the lumen in the vessel completely).

Depending on the formation mechanism:

agglutinative, white: formed from leukocytes, agglutinated platelets, fibrin strands. Forms slowly, in arteries with fast blood flow;
coagulation, red: formed during hyperfunction of blood coagulation (fibrin mesh captures red blood cells), localized in the veins;
mixed type (mucous structure, formed by alternating processes of adhesion (sticking) and agglutination (falling into sediment) of platelets);

hyaline (consists of plasma proteins, platelets, hemolyzed red blood cells).

Also, thrombi can be divided into groups, depending on their locations:

venous (in deep and superficial veins);
arterial (in deep and superficial arteries);
wandering (a clot that has broken away from the vessel wall and moves through the bloodstream).
thrombi in the vessels of the microcirculatory system.

What is the use of the drug Troxerutin and the instructions for using the drug have been studied in detail by us and made available to the public.

Symptoms to watch out for

Visible signs will depend on the location of the blood clot.

50% of people who had deep vein thrombosis experienced no symptoms.

However, the other half of the victims experienced certain feelings:

If a blood clot located in a deep vein. fever, chills, local pain and blueness, heat at the site of the thrombus.
If a blood clot formed in a superficial vein. it can be felt, the vein will be compacted to the touch, a painful touch to the affected area. Part of the body will be swollen, hot, red.
Thrombus in the leg. cramps in the calf muscle, pain, swelling of the ankle, swelling that disappears in the morning. One of the late symptoms is brown skin.
If the vein is inflamed and it contains a blood clot: high fever, pain in the affected area, redness, swelling. The next stage - the skin is covered with bluish spots, flaky.
Thrombus in my head. impaired speech, coordination, paralysis of the limbs, facial asymmetry, difficulty swallowing food. If a blood clot breaks off in the head - a stroke.
Thrombus in the vessels of the intestine. manifested, after a certain time, by the disease "peritonitis" (abdominal pain radiating to the shoulder or collarbone, vomiting, stool retention).
If a thrombus breaks off in heart myocardial infarction occurs.
Vein that carries blood from the brain. neck, headache, vision problems.
Thrombus in the lungs. extremely dangerous disease. If a blood clot breaks off in the lungs, a person suffocates, turns blue. Then he stops breathing. And usually no symptoms, until the dying state, does not appear.

Why is the separation happening?

The photo shows the process if a blood clot in the heart comes off

To give an unambiguous answer to the question of why a blood clot comes off, it is necessary to study a considerable amount of not always unambiguous medical literature.

But in general, the process can be described quite simply.

A blood clot forms in the body, waiting in the wings.

Why does a blood clot break off person:

it does not completely block the lumen of the vessel;
the blood flow is fast enough (to tear the clot away from the wall).

Therefore, in most cases, the clot breaks away from the artery wall.

At a certain point, a blood clot can break away from the vessel wall and move throughout the body. If it enters certain organs, it can be fatal.

Symptoms that appear when a blood clot breaks off determined by the affected area.

If damaged artery. there is a lack of oxygen and nutrients (the organ that is supplied from this artery). First comes ischemia, after - necrosis of the corresponding organ.

Less commonly, thrombus comes off in a vein. Symptoms are also determined by the site of the lesion (congestion, reproduction of microorganisms, tissue inflammation, sepsis occur in that area).

Thromboembolism of the lungs - a deadly vagus thrombus

One of the most “unfortunate” places for a blood clot is, perhaps, the lungs.

Pulmonary embolism - is an immediate cessation of blood flow in the pulmonary arteries due to blockage by a blood clot.

PE is often the result of a complication of the postpartum and postoperative period.

If a blood clot breaks off in the lungs, it is in a third of cases certain death in the first minutes.

More than half of patients die within 2 hours after the appearance of a blood clot in the arteries of the lung.

Most often, PE is provoked by blood clots that have come from the deep veins of the lower extremities.

PE manifests itself through rapid breathing, shortness of breath, improvement in the supine position, chest pain, palpitations, cold sweat, cough, dizziness, cramps in the limbs, pallor, "cyanosis".

Diagnostics

Timely detection of a thrombus is an opportunity to avoid surgery and even save your life.

Do not wait for the signs described above (under "Symptoms")! This is already an advanced stage of the disease.

If you are at risk for thrombosis, it is better to periodically diagnose the condition of the clotting blood functions:

thromboelastography;
thrombin generation test;
active partial thromboplastin time;
thrombodynamics;
prothrombin time test.

Treatment of various forms of thrombosis

The first step towards a cure is early identification of the problem.

thrombosis is treated exclusively under the supervision of a doctor, in a stationary regime.

For diagnosis, you need to contact a phlebologist or cardiologist.

He will evaluate the thrombus, the possibility of its detachment, formulate a diagnosis, and select a method of treatment.

There are such ways to heal:

medication (anticoagulants that reduce blood clotting, nicotinic acid, statins);
introduction into the vessel of a substance that dissolves a blood clot;
surgically (with severe forms of thrombosis);
installation of cava filters in a vein (applicable for unilateral thrombi, which often come off);
related procedures (exercise therapy, massage);
low cholesterol diet.

The type of treatment will primarily depend on the type of blood clot and its size.

Also, the method of treatment is selected depending on the affected area.

In more inaccessible areas (deep veins, heart, lungs), a drug that dissolves a blood clot is injected.

Surgical intervention is used in extremely serious condition of the patient.

Prevention of clot formation

Compliance proper diet- a minimum of cholesterol (margarine, fatty, "rich" soups), more foods that reduce blood clotting (green tea, cherries, tuna, broccoli, spinach, citrus fruits, lingonberries).
Taking aspirin reduces blood clotting (usually, cardiologists prescribe it after 40 years). However, do not prescribe it to yourself!
Minimum 30 minutes per day physical activity(cardio training). Thus, you accelerate blood circulation, strengthen the heart muscle, reduce blood clotting.
Apply special knitwear (compression) during travel and flights.

If a blood clot breaks off in the heart, lungs or leg, the consequences can be the saddest and following simple recommendations and regular visits to the doctor can save a life!

Education treatment, causes, prevention of blood clots

Probably, every person has heard about blood clots and thrombosis, but not everyone knows how dangerous it can be. It is the thrombus that is responsible for the development of such deadly diseases as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Also, due to the formation of blood clots, gangrene can develop, and when it is torn off, pulmonary embolism can develop.

Thrombus What is a thrombus

Very often in the media you can hear that it was a blood clot that caused the death of a popular artist or director. At first glance, there is nothing terrible in this word, but many are wondering why it can be dangerous. So what is a thrombus. Thrombus represents blood clot. which is formed in a blood vessel or cavity of the heart. It consists of proteins, mainly fibrin, and can be parietal or obstructive, i.e. completely covering the lumen of the vessel. Clogging thrombi are more often formed in small vessels, while parietal thrombi - in large veins of the lower extremities and the heart cavity.

What causes blood clots

The formation of blood clots body's defense reaction. aimed at stopping bleeding. Everyone knows that with small cuts, the blood stops quickly enough, and this happens due to the closure of damaged capillaries by small blood clots. In case of violation of the process of thrombosis, a threat to life may arise. For example, the death of Tsarevich Alexei, who had hemophilia. Blood clots did not form in his body, so a small wound turned out to be fatal for him. But the reverse situation, in which the formation of blood clots increases, can be fatal. There are three main reasons what causes blood clots in vessels:

Change in the vascular wall;
Increased blood viscosity;
Impaired blood flow.

TO changes in the vascular wall most commonly caused by atherosclerosis. With improper nutrition, excess cholesterol forms plaque in the arteries. Under the influence of various factors, calcium is deposited in these fatty growths. That is, soft and elastic vessels turn into fragile and ulcerated. Since the main function of blood clots is to close wounds, they are very fond of forming in these damaged areas.

In some diseases (oncological, autoimmune), genetic defects of the coagulation system, as well as dehydration, there is increased blood viscosity. The intravascular fluid becomes more viscous, what causes blood clots .

slow blood flow through the veins as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, as well as turbulent blood flow (on the branches of blood vessels with high blood pressure), can contribute to thrombosis.

It should be remembered that thrombophilia can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as oral contraceptives. Therefore, self-administration of drugs can be exactly what what causes blood clots .

Thrombus symptoms

Symptoms of a blood clot will be different, depending on the type of vessel in which it formed.

Arterial thrombosis leads to the development

myocardial infarction,
stroke,
limb gangrene,
bowel necrosis.

Characteristic manifestations arterial thrombosis depending on the affected organ

pain in the region of the heart with a heart attack,
neurological disorders in stroke,
pain, numbness, coldness and discoloration of the limb, as well as
intestinal obstruction and abdominal pain.

Diseases with venous thrombosis also differ depending on the localization:

thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities,
thrombosis of the portal vein of the liver,
thrombosis of the jugular vein and venous sinus of the brain.

Symptoms venous thrombosis are:

Swelling, pain, redness of the affected area of the leg;
Abdominal pain, manifestations of pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis;
Pain in the neck, blurred vision.

Vein thromboses are also dangerous because microorganisms multiply rapidly in them, which leads to inflammation first of the surrounding tissues, and then of the whole organism (sepsis).

Therefore, at thrombus symptoms may be different, but always very serious.

Why does a blood clot come off and why is it dangerous

Movement of a thrombus within the cardiovascular system is possible with blood flow.

For this it is necessary two basic conditions .

The thrombus should not be obstructive, i.e. freely placed inside the vessel. Usually, such blood clots form in the veins of the legs and the cavity of the heart.
The blood velocity must be sufficient to detach the clot.

The danger of migrating blood clots is that they can travel long distances, fragment and lead to blockage of a large number of vessels.

The most common example of a thrombus rupture is pulmonary embolism from the veins of the lower extremities. It would seem that not the most serious disease (varicose veins and thrombophlebitis) can lead to sudden death.

Nobody can tell why does a blood clot break off just when you least expect it. For example, a patient after surgery is already on the mend and is preparing for discharge. He gets up and starts packing, but suddenly starts to choke and lose consciousness. This is usually how pulmonary embolism develops. In this regard, timely prevention and effective treatment of blood clots are urgently needed.

Prevention of blood clots

Thrombus prevention is based on the following principles:

Healthy food;
Mobile lifestyle;
Maintain normal blood viscosity.

Principle healthy eating It is mainly aimed at lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood. To do this, it is necessary to limit the intake of animal fats, and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables, as well as fish and greens in the diet. These simple rules blood clots prevention will keep the vessels elastic for many years. In addition, there are foods that reduce blood clotting. These include cherries, green tea, beets.

Not only to prevent the formation of blood clots, but also to keep the body in good shape, it is necessary to devote at least 30 minutes every day exercise. What kind of load this will be, everyone chooses. But it is much more useful to walk in the fresh air than to work out in a stuffy gym.

It must also be remembered that the risk of blood clots in the veins of the legs rises sharply with prolonged stay in a forced position (for example, in an airplane) and during bed rest (for example, after surgery). For blood clots prevention in these cases, it is necessary to get up and walk around as often as possible. In patients in the postoperative period, the use of elastic bandaging of the legs is justified.

For maintaining normal viscosity blood doctor may recommend taking Aspirin or Warfarin. They affect different parts of the formation of a blood clot and have their own strict indications and contraindications. Taking these drugs without a doctor's prescription can be dangerous.

Blood clots treatment

Treatment of blood clots primarily depends on where it is located.

At arterial thrombosis it is necessary to restore blood flow in the affected vessel as soon as possible. If the catastrophe happened in the brain, then the doctor thrombus treatment no more than 2-3 hours, if the heart is no more than 6 hours. The most resistant to malnutrition were the tissues of the limbs and intestines. There are two main ways to eliminate a blood clot.

1. Surgical method. which includes

shunting,
stenting and
mechanical removal of a thrombus.

At shunting the surgeon performs the imposition of an additional path of blood supply bypassing the affected vessel. This is an open operation and it is performed under anesthesia. A more modern way of troubleshooting is stenting. This method consists in placing a stent (a hollow cylinder similar to a spring) in the area of the narrowing of the vessel. It is produced through a puncture in the artery and does not require anesthesia. Before stenting, the thrombus is sometimes removed by suction with a special syringe.

2. Therapeutic method

It consists in dissolving a blood clot with the help of special drugs (thrombolytics) administered intravenously.

A slightly different treatment strategy for venous thrombosis. Here everything is determined by how high the danger of its separation from the vessel wall is.

At floating thrombi(freely moving in the lumen of the vessel) perform vein ligation or install a special trap for blood clots - cava filter. To stabilize the thrombus, heparin or its analogues (fraxiparin, clexane) can be used.

At full closure the lumen of the vein, you can use drugs that will destroy the blood clot and in some cases lead to the restoration of blood flow through the damaged vessel. These include heparin and warfarin. In rare cases for thrombus treatment use its surgical removal from a vein.

The formation of blood clots is like a medal that has two sides. On the one hand, it protects the body from bleeding, on the other hand, it can lead to sudden death. Therefore, it is very important to know the main symptoms of thrombosis in order to have time to get medical help. Preventive measures are also important, consisting mainly in a healthy diet and moderate physical activity. Do not forget about the risk of thrombosis during forced physical inactivity (on the plane or after surgery). At the same time, elastic bandaging of the legs or the use of compression stockings is justified.

7 comments

Elena Viktorovna

Repeatedly met a story about the effect of beets on blood clots. After I heard it for the first time, I began to regularly make vegetable salads with the addition of beets, and of course the classic vinaigrette.

Recently I was at a planned medical examination, I took blood tests. The doctor said that the analysis was good, which means beetroot, how blood clots prevention works!

Proper nutrition is very important for cleansing the body. We all know that prevention is much better than cure. And sports or just exercise are very important for our life and all the processes occurring in our body.

People, do what you are advised. Just not long ago, a 20-year-old acquaintance of mine passed away, because of this, as some people think, a comic disease.

This is terrible .... my husband was only 38 years old when they called us from work and said that he had died, a blood clot had come off ... I could not believe it, because he was a healthy, cheerful person, and in one second he was gone .... what kind of disease is this that does not make itself felt? he never complained about anything .... still can't believe it ...

People. eat sea fish. seaweed. beets. fresh onions, apples. every day and everything will be ok. no strokes no heart attacks no thrombosis

A friend miraculously survived the other day. Saved. Glad you got the correct diagnosis. Blood clots are an insidious and unexpected death. Take tests, control cholesterol, sports and walks are required, and of course nutrition. All health.

I read everything about blood clots in an accessible and understandable way. Now I will reconsider my attitude to health and will follow the recommendations for the prevention of thrombosis. Thank you.

Everyone has heard about diseases such as stroke, heart attack, as well as the concept of “separation of a blood clot” or “thrombus in the heart”, but not everyone understands what exactly this means. Indeed, it is blood clots - thrombi - that are responsible for many of the most serious diseases of the heart and blood vessels, which can lead to death. If a blood clot breaks off, a person’s chances of survival are far from always high, so everything must be done to prevent such a condition and prevent pathologies of the circulatory system.

Causes of blood clots

A thrombus is a pathological blood clot that, during a person's life, forms in the lumen of a vein or artery and attaches to its wall. Depending on the structure, there are several types:

white - are formed very slowly in the arteries, consist of platelets, leukocytes, fibrin;
red - include, in addition to everything described above, erythrocytes and are formed in the veins with a slow blood flow;
layered - they include elements of a white and red blood clot, such blood clots appear in the heart, aorta, arteries;
hyaline - include destroyed platelets, fibrin, plasma proteins, more often appear in small vessels.

Thrombi can be parietal or obstructive, which clog the lumen of the vessel. Also, a thrombus can be floating - weakly fixed, which is held only by a small area and can come off at any time. Most often, these blood clots are in the veins of the legs or arms. After a blood clot breaks off, it is called an embolus.

The reasons for the appearance of blood clots are varied. First of all, this process is a protective reaction of the body, which is needed to stop bleeding. Therefore, in case of inflammation of the vessel, its injury or injection, a dropper may appear a blood clot - a blood clot. In a healthy person, it quickly resolves without the use of any drugs. But in the presence of some pathological changes, the resorption of the clot does not occur, on the contrary, it becomes overgrown with thrombotic masses and may eventually come off. Conditions for the formation of blood clots are:

The most effective remedy for getting rid of varicose veins, according to our reader Ksenia Strizhenko, is Varius. Varius is considered an excellent remedy for the treatment and prevention of varicose veins. For you, it has become that “lifeline” that you should use first of all! Doctors opinion...

violation of the integrity of the vascular wall;
increased blood viscosity;
slowing down blood flow.

Many diseases can lead to thrombosis, but in the vast majority of cases, this process is provoked by varicose veins of an advanced stage and atherosclerosis of the vessels.

Also, blood clotting disorders and its thickening often occur with heart pathologies, autoimmune and tumor diseases, genetic defects, diabetes mellitus, etc. Often provoke a thickening of the blood taking oral contraceptives, smoking, dehydration and other factors.

First symptoms and complete clinical picture

Signs of blood clots will depend on which area of the body it happened. Up to half of people with deep vein thrombosis have no symptoms at all. But in the rest, when a large blood clot appeared, the following initial signs of the disease appeared:

redness of the skin around the affected vessel (with superficial vein thrombosis)
pallor, marbling, cyanosis of the skin (with thrombosis of a deep large vessel); More about the causes of marbled skin
local pain;
hyperthermia;
sometimes - the possibility of detecting a bump on the leg or arm with the help of palpation;
pain when touching the skin;
leg cramps;
edema and severe swelling of the limb.

These symptoms are early in thrombosis, and in the future, the development of events may follow different scenarios. If there is a complete obstruction of the vessel by a blood clot, the skin becomes brown, the pain is unbearable, the skin is covered with blue spots. Thrombus rupture is a more severe variant of thrombosis progression. The signs of a detached blood clot will depend on where it happened and where it stops. These pathologies are accompanied by their own specific symptoms:

a blood clot burst in the brain: the development of a stroke - headaches, neck pain, visual impairment;
a blood clot broke off in the heart: the occurrence of myocardial infarction - pain behind the sternum, strong squeezing, pressure in the chest, radiating pain to the abdomen, arms, neck, shoulder blades;
separation of a blood clot in the lungs: shortness of breath and asphyxia, or falling into a coma, pleurisy, heart attack pneumonia, hemoptysis;
thrombus in the extremities: rapid cessation of blood flow, cooling of the extremity, its cyanosis, development of tissue necrosis, gangrene of the extremity;
pulmonary embolism: pressure drop, palpitations, retrosternal pain, urinary retention, loss of consciousness, cerebral ischemia, collapse, respiratory failure.

If an embolus enters the lungs, large arteries or heart, in many cases it threatens the death of a person, so the task of him and the attending physician is to prevent such consequences and prevent the thrombus from breaking off.

How to prevent separation

In order for a thrombus to move inside the body, such conditions must be met. Firstly, the thrombus should not be obstructive, that is, it is freely placed in the vessel. Secondly, the rate of blood flow must be high enough so that the clot can flow from one vessel to another. Migrating clots can fragment and clog several vital vessels, and it is almost impossible to predict exactly where this will happen. Sudden death can result. Therefore, it is very important to do everything to prevent thrombus separation, that is, to ensure timely prevention and effective treatment of thrombosis at its early stage.

Often with deep vein thrombosis, surgical intervention is performed - thrombectomy, or removal of a blood clot. Modern clinics most often perform such operations in a minimally invasive way, using vascular dilator catheters or other special devices that are inserted into the vessel and removed from it by a blood clot. Thus, they “clean” the vessels in which there are clots in order to completely rid the body of them.

Treatment of thrombosis is also carried out by medication (according to indications). It may include the following methods:

Reception or administration of anticoagulants - Heparin, Warfarin, Fragmin, Fraxiparine, etc. These drugs thin the blood and prevent new blood clots from forming.
Taking antiplatelet agents - Aspirin, Caridomagnyl to prevent blood clotting.
The use of thrombolytic drugs - Urokinase, Streptokinase to dissolve existing blood clots. These drugs are administered to the patient only in a hospital under the strict supervision of a doctor. In the presence of large clots, such drugs should not be used because of the risk of pulmonary embolism.

Of the non-drug methods of therapy, wearing compression underwear and elastic bandaging of the legs will help prevent the separation of a blood clot. It is also necessary to monitor nutrition so that it also reduces blood viscosity. The diet should contain as many vegetables, herbs, fruits as possible, as well as products that prevent the appearance of blood clots - beets, cherries, green tea.

A healthy lifestyle and gymnastics will have a positive effect on the composition of the blood and the condition of all vessels. Self-medication with thrombosis can end sadly. Only a doctor should determine which drugs to take, because otherwise they can provoke thromboembolism and other serious consequences.

Thrombophlebitis (Thrombophlebitis; from the Greek thrombos-blood clot, thrombus and phleps, genus Phlebos- vein) - inflammation of a vein with thrombosis; in animals it often occurs in large veins after intravenous injections, bloodletting (in large animals - in the jugular vein, and in small animals - in the veins of the extremities). If the animal has a simultaneous development of thrombophlebitis with periphlebitis, then the disease is called parathrombophlebitis, and with endophlebitis - thromboendophlebitis. Thrombophlebitis in animals can be aseptic and purulent.

Etiology. The cause of thrombophlebitis in animals is the introduction of drugs that lead to a chemical burn of the blood vessel wall (chloral hydrate, calcium chloride, etc.), the presence of purulent foci in the perivascular tissues, purulent-resorptive fever and metastatic sepsis, an infected wound to the vein wall. A contributing factor in the occurrence of thrombophlebitis in animals is a change in the composition of the blood in certain diseases.

Pathogenesis. In a sick animal, inflammation of the outer or inner lining of the vein first occurs, and then thrombosis, or thrombosis may first appear, and then inflammation. With aseptic thrombophlebitis, the inflamed area of the vein is obturated. If timely measures are taken to eliminate the cause and treat thrombophlebitis, then in a sick animal it is possible to cause a subsidence of acute inflammatory phenomena, and the resorption of a thrombus or its sewage. Sometimes the obturated vein becomes obliterated (empty, turning into a dense cord). Purulent thrombophlebitis in an animal is usually caused by a pyogenic infection. In this case, the thrombus undergoes purulent fusion, which is accompanied by necrosis of the vessel wall in the animal, and then spontaneous opening of the vein occurs. In this case, pus enters the perivascular space and causes the development of an abscess or phlegmon in the animal. When a thrombus melts, small particles can be carried away by the blood, causing embolism of the blood vessels of various organs () and purulent inflammation. Sometimes, with good resistance of the organism, the death of the pathogen that has fallen occurs, the acute inflammatory phenomena subside and the process ends, as in aseptic thrombophlebitis.

Clinical picture. With aseptic thrombophlebitis, by palpation we note an increase in local temperature and swelling along the affected vein, which, when palpated, is felt in the form of a cord, is painful, its peripheral area is full of blood. With purulent thrombophlebitis, the veterinarian notes a sharp violation in the general condition of the body. The sick animal is depressed, local and general body temperature is elevated, there is venous hyperemia of the mucous membranes. With purulent thrombophlebitis of the jugular vein in a sick animal, swelling of the head is possible and the act of chewing is difficult. Thrombophlebitis of deep venous lines in animals is characterized by post-thrombotic syndrome (severe pain, fever, progressive edema distal to the site of thrombophlebitis, development of chronic circulatory failure, dysfunction of the organ where the affected vein is located). The degree of venous circulation disorders and the clinical picture of the disease depend on the location of the thrombus, the degree of development of collateral circulation, the duration of the disease, treatment and other factors.

Diagnosis thrombophlebitis is put on the basis of clinical signs of the disease.

Differential Diagnosis. Thrombophlebitis must be differentiated from.

Treatment. With aseptic thrombophlebitis, the sick animal is prescribed complete rest. The skin in the affected area of the vein is initially lubricated with an alcoholic solution of iodine, then cold lead lotions and other types of cold are used during the day. From the second day, we resort to thermal procedures in the form of alcohol, alcohol-ichthyol compresses, as well as rubbing irritating ointments - camphor, ichthyol and iodine, paraffin and ozekeritotherapy, vaporization; diathermy, sollux lamp or infrared; in the treatment of extensive aseptic, not yet formed blood clots, treatment with leeches is used - hirudotherapy in combination with novocaine blockades and heat; practice the introduction of fibrolysin into the affected vein in combination with heparin, dicoumarin or sodium citrate. In the first days of treatment, heparin is injected into a vein 4-5 times a day (for horses and cattle, a daily dose of up to 150,000 IU, for small animals - 5000-10,000 IU). When treating with anticoagulants, the veterinarian must necessarily conduct a control blood test every 2 days. In the event that prothrombin decreases to 30%, we clinically note the appearance of bleeding from the mucous membranes or wounds, immediately stop the injections of anticoagulants, and inject a 1% solution of protamine sulfite, which is a heparin antagonist, into the vein (1 mg of this drug neutralizes 10-ED heparin). Sick animals undergo novocaine therapy. If a sick animal has purulent thrombophlebitis, phlegmons perform surgical intervention - they make linear cuts in the skin and loose tissue, while not damaging the vein itself. By doing this, we achieve a decrease in the tension of edematous tissues, improve local blood circulation and contribute to the removal of toxic and tissue-melting products. In the event that an abscess matures in the perivascular tissue, it should be opened according to the rules of surgery. Treatment is with antibiotic therapy.

One of the most important tissues in the body is blood. Circulating through the system of blood vessels, it provides all organs with oxygen and nutrients, delivers protective cells to the site of penetration of microbes, coagulates, clogs wounds. But the ability of blood to form a clot and close the lumen of the vessel with it can also lead to illness or death of a person.

The fluidity and liquid state of blood depends on the coordinated work of the coagulation and anticoagulation systems. Being activated at the moments of damage to the walls of the blood vessel, the coagulation system performs important functions:

activates the formation of fibrin protein filaments;
prevents blood loss by blocking damaged blood vessels.

The anticoagulant system, in turn, fights the formation of blood clots in intact tissues.

Pathologies or uncoordinated work of these systems performing opposite functions - this is what causes the formation of clots of coagulated blood in the vessels inside the body. A parietal thrombus that forms near the vein wall (Fig. 1) develops in several stages:

The onset of clot formation is usually due to damage to the endothelium of the vessel wall and its inflammation in thrombophlebitis or thrombosis. Perceiving the chemical "signal" of damage, the coagulation system comes into action and protein filaments begin to form near the damaged area.
Blood cells (erythrocytes and platelets) become entangled in fibrin threads.
The constant flow of blood brings new blood cells, which continue to fall into the network of tangled protein filaments. The thrombus increases in size, thickens and can come off.

Blood clots also form in the arteries due to narrowing of the blood vessel. Fatty or cholesterol plaques on its walls create a barrier to fluid flow, and a clot is formed from fibrin and platelets accumulating on their surface.

Other causes of thrombosis may also include:

increased blood clotting due to lack of water, cancer, or taking certain medications (estrogen, contraceptives);
surgical intervention;
sedentary lifestyle and overweight;
squeezing of the walls of blood vessels during pregnancy, impaired blood flow;
leg injuries with closed vein injuries;
heart failure and congestion caused by it in the circulatory system;
infectious diseases.

Blood clots that form in large veins or arteries are considered especially dangerous. When they come off and clog another large vessel, a number of serious diseases occur, which can also lead to death.

Why breakaway occurs

There are parietal and floating types of blood clots. They have different chances of breaking. Thus, a parietal thrombus formed around an atherosclerotic plaque is much less likely to come off than a floating one. Anchored on a thin stalk, it is the floating blood clot that is most often the cause of pulmonary embolism (PE), strokes, and other serious conditions.

In contrast to these clots, which are still fixed in their place, wandering blood clots, or emboli, are already a danger to life and health. The reasons why a blood clot comes off in a person can be as follows:

high blood flow;
the location of the thrombus in a vessel with a large lumen;
insolvency of the leg of a floating thrombus.

In such cases, the blood clot leaves its place and begins to move along the bloodstream, often breaking up into several smaller parts. As soon as blood clots enter the vessels, the lumen of which is smaller than their size, blockage (embolism) occurs and blood flow stops in the organ or limb. In this case, the thrombus is called occlusive.

How to determine that a blood clot has broken off in a person

Timely noticed signs of thromboembolism of a vessel can save a life. Depending on the localization of the clogged artery or vein, a variety of conditions occur, with symptoms specific to each case:

An embolism of a cerebral artery is called a stroke and can be expressed in speech disorders, facial asymmetry, sudden and severe headaches. In very serious cases, coordination of movements, sensitivity of the body is disturbed, paralysis occurs. In case of blockage of the vein, vision may deteriorate, headaches and pain in the neck may occur.
Blocking the lumen of the coronary vessels, the clot leads to myocardial infarction. In this case, the person complains of acute heart pain. Pain symptoms can occur not only in the region of the heart, they often appear in the neck and limbs, between the shoulder blades, in the abdomen and even the lower jaw.
Mesenteric thrombosis is caused by a stoppage of blood flow in the vessels of the intestine. Sudden sharp pain in the abdomen should alert the relatives of the patient and prompt them to urgently call a doctor. As a result of blockage of the vessel, the intestinal tissues die, their necrosis develops. This can lead to peritonitis and death within hours.
Embolism of the vessels of the extremities develops more slowly, but its treatment should also be started as soon as possible. Severe pain in the leg or arm, swelling, redness of the skin indicate blockage of the vein. Paleness or cyanosis of the skin and a decrease in the temperature of the limb are signs of arterial damage. The cessation of blood flow in these cases can lead to tissue necrosis and gangrene, but a timely visit to a doctor will save the limb and life of the patient.
Pulmonary embolism is considered to be the most severe consequence of a thrombus separation. A blood clot can get into the lumen of the vessel from the veins on the legs with thrombophlebitis. Impaired lung function is expressed in shortness of breath and cough, cyanosis of the skin in open areas of the body. Respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest occur very quickly.

If one of the symptoms appears, you should immediately call an ambulance team, informing the dispatcher about the diagnosis of thrombosis or thrombophlebitis in the patient, about the presence of risk factors for thromboembolism. You can know about this only if you consult a doctor in a timely manner with varicose veins, atherosclerosis or other diseases that provoke the formation of blood clots.

Prevention measures

The tendency to form blood clots is inherited. If a person's relatives were sick with varicose veins, thrombosis, then the best prevention for him would be an examination by specialists to detect a blood clot. As a result of diagnostic manipulations (ultrasound angioscanning, angiography), the doctor will be able to determine the presence of a thrombus and its localization, the possibility of detachment and ways to avoid it.

If increased blood clotting is detected, the patient may be prescribed medications from the group of antiplatelet agents. Self-administration of these funds is unacceptable and should be done only under the supervision of a physician. Taking medication can prevent a blood clot from forming or growing. In the event that a clot has formed and there is a danger of its movement through the vessel, it is recommended to remove it surgically to prevent separation of the thrombus.

A patient with thrombosis is advised to follow the doctor's instructions. These usually include a ban on hot baths and baths, which increase blood flow. Treatments to be avoided include massages and the application of warm compresses.

For normal blood circulation, it is recommended to lead a mobile lifestyle, performing feasible gymnastic exercises, regularly walking at an acceptable pace. But at a high risk of pulmonary thromboembolism, strict bed rest is prescribed. Therefore, it is important not to resort to self-treatment, but be sure to consult with a specialist.

The content in the diet of products that reduce cholesterol levels in the blood can also be called one of the preventive measures. By reducing the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation, such products also reduce the risk of thrombus formation and separation. Nutrition should be varied and must include the use of sea fish and seafood, garlic, fresh fruits and berries. Broccoli and spinach, young potatoes and dairy products rich in potassium and calcium help maintain the acid-base balance of the blood at the right level and prevent the development of thrombosis.

People often find out about their tendency to form blood clots and their ability to come off too late. In some cases, the disease does not make itself felt until the very last moment, when the clot has already clogged the blood vessel. Prevention of conditions caused by embolism is possible, you just need to be more attentive to your own health or the well-being of loved ones, taking timely measures to prevent complications of thrombosis.