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embolism
The presence of substances other than liquid blood in the circulatory system, causing obstruction in arteries or interfering with the pumping of the heart. The commonest embolism is from atheromatous plaques (see atherosclerosis) or thrombosis on a blood vessel or the heart walls. Fat globules may form emboli from bone marrow after major bone fractures, and amniotic fluid may cause embolism during childbirth. Stroke or transient cerebral episodes, pulmonary embolism, coronary thrombosis, and obstruction of limb or organ blood supply with consequent cell death are common results, some of them fatal. Some embolisms may be removed surgically, but prevention is preferable.
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• HEALTH AND DISEASE
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