What Is a Fat Embolism?

Fat embolism is caused by lipid droplets in the circulating blood flow that are blocked by small blood vessels. It is often found in long bone fractures, severe adipose tissue contusion or fatty liver crush injury. Fat embolism mainly affects the lungs and nervous system.

Fat embolism

Fat embolism is caused by lipid droplets in the circulating blood flow that are blocked by small blood vessels. It is often found in long bone fractures, severe adipose tissue contusion or fatty liver crush injury. Fat embolism mainly affects the lungs and nervous system.
Fat cells rupture, and the free lipid droplets enter the bloodstream through the ruptured vein to cause fat embolism. The consequences of fat embolism depend on the size and amount of fat droplets and the degree of systemic involvement.
TCM disease name
Fat embolism
English name
fat embolism
Common causes
Obstruction of small blood vessels caused by lipid droplets in the circulating bloodstream
Common symptoms
Mainly affect the lungs and nervous system, etc.
Fat droplets in the circulating blood flow that block small blood vessels are called fat embolism. Fat embolism emboli are often derived from long bone fractures, severe contusion and burns of adipose tissue. These injuries can cause fat cells to rupture and release fat droplets. Fat embolism is caused by ruptured bone marrow vessels sinusoids or veins entering the blood circulation. In fatty liver, liver cells are ruptured to release lipid droplets into the bloodstream due to violent compression and impact of the upper abdomen. In non-traumatic diseases such as diabetes, alcoholism, and chronic pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia or intense mental stimulation, excessive tension can cause the blood lipids in the suspended milk state to remain stable, free and fuse to form fat droplets. Fat in traumatic embolism
The consequences of fat embolism depend on the site of the embolism and the number of lipid droplets. A small amount of lipid drips into the blood and can be swallowed and absorbed by macrophages, or it can be decomposed and cleared by lipase in the blood without adverse effects. If a large number of lipid droplets (9-20 grams) enter the pulmonary circulation in a short period of time, 75% of the pulmonary circulation area is blocked, which can cause asphyxia and death due to acute right heart failure.

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