Pulmonary Embolism, Thrombosis and Infarction
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- Lungs are strategically situated to catch emboli carried in venous blood
- Because the lung is supplied by both pulmonary and bronchial arteries and has extensive collateral channels, infarction usually does not follow embolism or thrombosis unless pulmonary circulation is already compromised
- In animals, greatest risk comes from:
- Tumor emboli
- From e.g.: osteosarcoma and haemangiosarcoma in dogs, uterine carcinoma in cattle
- Septic emboli
- From bacterial endocarditis, jugular thrombophlebitis, hepatic abscesses etc.
- May cause unexpected death if in large numbers
- May develop suppurative pneumonia -> pulmonary abscesses, arteritis, thrombosis
- Tumor emboli
- Pulmonary infarcts usually occur when there is embolisation or thrombosis during general circulatory collapse or passive congestion of heart failure
- Pulmonary thromboembolism is a sequel to in cattle to large emboli from liver abscesses close to the vena cava
- Death may ocur due to massive haemorrhaging into lung tissue
- Parasites (e.g. Dirofilaria immitis, Angiostrongylus vasorum) may be responsible
- Long-term intravenous catheterisation may cuse thrombi pieces breaking off and lodging in pulmonary vessels