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What is a Brain Embolism?
When a foreign body travels through the blood vessels to the brain and becomes lodged there, blocking blood flow, this is known as a brain embolism. The foreign material, or embolus, is typically a blood clot, often formed in the heart. Once the blood flow is cut off from a portion of the brain, the neurons there become deprived of oxygen and begin dying within a few minutes, typically causing a stroke, brain damage, or even death.
There is a variety of material that can form an embolism, including air, fat, and cholesterol, but in the majority of cases, one arises from a blood clot that forms in another part of the body, detaches, and migrates to the brain. Often, these clots originate in the heart. Several problems may lead to the formation of a cardiac clot, including atrial fibrillation, infections in the heart, and problems that damage the heart muscle, such as congestive heart failure or heart attack. Clots can also form in arteries that have been damaged.
A brain embolism usually causes an ischemic stroke, meaning portions of the brain are damaged due to lack of blood flow and the ensuing oxygen deprivation. In addition to pain in the head, patients may also suffer various other issues depending on the part of the brain affected. Movement and muscle control on one side of the body or the other may be lost. Hearing, vision, or the ability to speak could be impaired. The person might suffer some memory loss, or have difficulty with tasks he or she could normally perform, such as writing, math, or recognizing familiar people and objects.
To diagnose an embolism and determine how much damage has occurred in the brain, medical professionals will typically use one of two methods. A cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan may be used to produce an image of the brain, which will show where the embolism and stroke are located. If it is determined that the embolism was caused by a clot that came from the heart, an echocardiogram may also be necessary to see if more clots have formed.
Immediate treatment for an embolism may include medication to break up the clot. Once that issue has been resolved, treatment for the problem that led to the formation of the clot will likely be necessary. Further support for the patient will usually need to be determined depending on how much damage was done to the brain.
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![Brain embolisms occur most often from blood clots that have traveled from the heart to the brain.]()
By: clearviewstockBrain embolisms occur most often from blood clots that have traveled from the heart to the brain. -
![A doctor may perform a CT scan to determine the location of an embolism.]()
By: tawesitA doctor may perform a CT scan to determine the location of an embolism. -
![An MRI scan of the head may be used to help diagnose a brain embolism.]()
By: Marcin SadlowskiAn MRI scan of the head may be used to help diagnose a brain embolism. -
![A CT scan can be used to determine the amount of damage done to the brain by an embolism.]()
By: CGinspirationA CT scan can be used to determine the amount of damage done to the brain by an embolism. -
![After a CT scan, further tests may be necessary to determine if multiple clots have formed in the body.]()
By: Tyler OlsonAfter a CT scan, further tests may be necessary to determine if multiple clots have formed in the body.
Discussion Comments
My bro had a brain embolism. He lost his speech. What are the treatments? Will his speech come back?
My friend had a brain embolism and major heart surgery. He no longer eats a banana or oatmeal every day like he did. He does not like to get out of his chair. He is proud and does not want to use a walker or cane. He doesn't want people to see him like this Is there anything we can do?
@elizabeth2 -- An air embolism can happen when air bubbles get into the blood stream. This can happen during surgery. It can also happen when air bubbles enter the blood stream through intravenous fluids. When this happens though, usually the air bubble disappears in the lungs. But on some occasions, it can reach the brain, causing a brain embolism.
I knew that a brain embolism could be caused from a blood clot, but I didn't know there were other kinds made up of air, fat, or cholesterol.
How do these other kinds of embolisms happen, especially an air embolism? I don't see how that's possible.
My dad had a brain embolism, in the form of a blood clot, when I was a kid, that did lead to a brain stroke.
He has regained a lot of the brain function that he lost as a result of the stroke. For example, he knows my name now, which he could not remember right after it happened. But after almost twenty years, his brain function is still not the same as it once was, and he really hasn't been the same person since.
A brain embolism is a dangerous and scary thing. We should do our best to take care of our bodies in the attempt to prevent things like this from happening.
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