Definition

Noun: 1. A vascular occlusion caused by an embolus that has detached from a thrombus: This medical term describes the condition where a blood clot (thrombus) that forms in one part of the circulatory system breaks loose, travels through the bloodstream, and then lodges in a narrower vessel, blocking blood flow.

Usage

• General Medical Context: The term is used to describe a specific pathological event and its resulting condition. : The patient was admitted with a suspected thromboembolism. : Thromboembolism is a serious potential complication of atrial fibrillation.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often specified by the location of the occlusion, forming compound medical terms. These are considered distinct terms, not the target word itself. : Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a blockage in an artery in the lungs. : Cerebral thromboembolism can cause an ischemic stroke.

Variants and Related Words

• Thromboembolic (adjective): Pertaining to or caused by a thromboembolism. : The patient was placed on anticoagulants due to a high thromboembolic risk.
• Thrombus (noun): The initial blood clot that forms and remains attached to a blood vessel wall.
• Embolus (noun): A clot or other material that travels through the bloodstream.

Synonyms

• Embolism: A broader term for the occlusion of a blood vessel by a traveling mass. "Thromboembolism" specifies that the embolus originated from a thrombus.
• Vascular occlusion: A general term for any blockage of a blood vessel.

Notes

• Thromboembolism is a portmanteau combining "thrombo-" (relating to a blood clot) and "embolism".
• It is a critical concept in cardiology, neurology, and pulmonology, representing a major cause of morbidity (e.g., stroke, pulmonary infarction).

Noun

1. occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus that has broken away from a thrombus