An embolism is a particle that moves from a source and blocks a blood vessel in the body. Doctors call more than one embolism “emboli.” A coronary embolism is an uncommon embolism cause, with an incidence of about 0.06 percent.

Cardiac sources of embolism can cause life threatening effects, such as a stroke or heart attack. The causes, effects, outlook, and treatments for a cardiac embolism will be detailed in this article.

An embolism can start in the heart for many reasons. Some of the most common causes include:

  • Mechanical heart valves made from metals like carbon and titanium can make a person more prone to developing blood clots in the heart.
  • Infections in the heart’s tissue or valves (known as endocarditis) can cause tissue to die or calcify.
  • Cholesterol can build up in the blood vessels. in the heart and break off, causing an embolism.
  • Atrial fibrillation causes the top chambers of the heart to fibrillate or quiver. When this happens, blood can pool in the heart, and clots can develop.
  • Left atrial appendage (LAA) is a common source of cardioembolic events, such as a stroke. The LAA is a small outpouching of tissue in the left atrium where blood tends to build up and clots can form.
  • Tumors can develop in the heart, causing tissue to break off and lead to an embolism. An example is cardiac myxoma, a tumor that usually develops in the atrium of the heart.

“Sometimes it is difficult for a doctor to identify a embolism. They can consider a person’s health history, the heart’s function, and the embolism’s location to decide if the embolism could have a cardiac origin.”

A cardiac source of embolism can travel to many areas of the body that can cause significant side effects.

  • blood vessels.
  • The brain or the kidneys are some of the organs.
  • The limbs can be a peripheral embolism source.

Blood flow can be blocked anywhere. Oxygen and other vital elements are brought to your tissues by blood.

A cardiac source of embolism can be life threatening. The embolism can leave the heart and cause medical events that include:

An estimated one-third of all ischemic strokes are due to a cardiac source of embolism, according to the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE). Ischemic strokes are the most common stroke type and occur when a clot lodges in the brain, keeping blood from flowing to key brain areas.

Doctors will typically diagnose a cardiac source of embolism using echocardiography. This form of ultrasound imaging is painless and does not involve radiation exposure.

There are two ways to diagnose a cardiac embolism.

  • Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) involves placing an ultrasound probe on the chest and examining the heart for potential embolism sources.
  • Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) involves inserting a special probe down the throat to the esophagus to view the chambers of the heart. This procedure is more invasive than TTE but can allow your doctor to see the workings of the heart more closely.

Your doctor may order an exam to identify emboli from the heart. Examples of these studies include computed tomography, transcranial doppler, and magnetic resonance scans.

Certain medical conditions carry a higher risk of developing an embolism. Per the ASE, conditions that have a high risk for a cardiac source of embolism include:

  • unusual heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter
  • If you have a history of heart attack, you should be aware of this.
  • History of heart problems on a valve, or other area of the heart.
  • tumors in the heart, such as a myxoma
  • There is at least one atratic area in the aorta.

Conditions that have a low, but possible, risk for a cardiac source of embolism include:

If you have a history of heart conditions or heart related disorders, you can talk to your doctor about your risk for a cardiac source of embolism.

Treatments for a cardiac source of embolism depend on the underlying cause. Treatment for a cardiac tumor is different from treatment for a atrial fibrillation.

If there is a way to correct an underlying condition that has caused emboli, a doctor may recommend it. Examples include:

  • Left appendage closing.
  • valve replacement surgery
  • The surgery to remove the myxoma is related to the cardiac myxoma.
  • PFO closing.

Doctors may prescribe drugs to reduce your risk of a embolism. These include drugs that lower cholesterol. A doctor may prescribe a medication to control your heart rhythm if you have a condition called atrial fibrillation.

A doctor will look at your health and risk of future events to determine if you should have surgery or medication.

In a review of 147 cases of coronary embolism, an estimated 68.7 percent had a “good” outcome, and there was a 12.9 percent mortality rate. Because emboli can have different destinations, arriving at a major vessel in the brain, heart, or leg can cause more problems than arriving in a smaller vessel.

Ideally, you’d like to know if you have a condition that can cause cardiac embolism. If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease or atrial fibrillation, talk with your doctor about your risks for embolism. Your doctor may prescribe anticoagulants to minimize your risks.

Cardiac sources of embolism can include heart infections, and atrial fibrillation. Talking with your doctor about your risks can help you minimize them.