Obstruction of blood flow by an embolus
a substance (e.g., a blood clot, a fat globule from a crush injury , or a gas bubble) not normally present in the bloodstream.
Obstruction of an artery to the brain may cause stroke . Pulmonary embolism (in the pulmonary artery or a branch) causes difficulty breathing, chest pain, and death of a section of lung tissue, with fever and rapid heartbeat. Embolism in a coronary artery can cause heart attack . See also thrombosis .