Word parts
What it means
A clot (thrombus) breaks loose and travels until it lodges in a smaller vessel (embolism). Venous thromboembolism is the name for a deep vein thrombosisDEEP VAYN throm-BOH-sisA blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.thromb/o clot-osis conditionFull entry together with a pulmonary embolismPUL-muh-nair-ee EM-buh-liz-umA blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.pulmon/o lung-ary relating toembol/o plug-ism conditionFull entry , the clot that travels to the lungs. Clots from the heart, as in atrial fibrillation, can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Immobility, surgery, cancer and some hormones raise the risk.
For the nurse
Prevent it with early walking, leg exercises, compression devices and anticoagulants as ordered. Report new leg swelling and pain, or sudden shortness of breath and chest pain.
At a glance
| Spanish | tromboembolia |
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Related terms
deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.
pulmonary embolism
A blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.
embolism
The blocking of a blood vessel by a mass carried there in the blood (an embolus), such as a clot, fat or an air bubble.
thromb/o
A word part that means blood clot.
immobility
Being unable to move about freely, such as being kept in bed or a chair.