Myoglobins and creatine kinase are also elevated in the blood in embolisation in other locations. Blood cultures may be done to identify the organism responsible for any causative infection
Electrocardiography (ECG) for detecting myocardial infarction
Angioscopy using a flexible fiberoptic catheter inserted directly into an artery. Prevention
Prevention of atherosclerosis, which is a major risk factor of arterial embolism, can be performed e.g. by dieting, physical exercise and smoking cessation.In case of high risk for developing thromboembolism, antithrombotic medication such as warfarin or coumadin may be taken prophylactically. Antiplatelet drugs may also be needed. Treatment
Treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms and improving the interrupted blood flow to the affected area of the body.Medications include:

Antithrombotic medication. These are commonly given because thromboembolism is the major cause of arterial embolism. Examples are:
Anticoagulants (such as warfarin or heparin) and antiplatelet medication (such as aspirin, ticlopidine, and clopidogrel) can prevent new clots from forming
Thrombolytics (such as streptokinase) can dissolve clots
Painkillers given intravenously
Vasodilators to relax and dilate blood vessels.Appropriate drug treatments successfully produce thrombolysis and removal of the clot in 50% to 80% of all cases.Antithrombotic agents may be administered directly onto the clot in the vessel using a flexible catheter (intra-arterial thrombolysis).
Less common sites include the kidneys, intestines, and eyes. Risk factors
Risk factors for thromboembolism, the major cause of arterial embolism, include disturbed blood flow (such as in atrial fibrillation and mitral stenosis), injury or damage to an artery wall, and hypercoagulability (such as increased platelet count). Mitral stenosis poses a high risk of forming emboli which may travel to the brain and cause stroke. Endocarditis increases the risk for thromboembolism, by a mixture of the factors above. Atherosclerosis in the aorta and other large blood vessels is a common risk factor, both for thromboembolism and cholesterol embolism. The legs and feet are major impact sites for these types. Thus, risk factors for atherosclerosis are risk factors for arterial embolisation as well:

advanced age
cigarette smoking
hypertension (high blood pressure)
obesity
hyperlipidemia, e.g. hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, elevated lipoprotein (a) or apolipoprotein B, or decreased levels of HDL cholesterol)
diabetes mellitus
Sedentary lifestyle
stressOther important risk factors for arterial embolism include:

recent surgery (both for thromboembolism and air embolism)
previous stroke or cardiovascular disease
a history of long-term intravenous therapy (for air embolism)
Bone fracture (for fat embolism)A septal defect of the heart makes it possible for paradoxical embolization, which happens when a clot in a vein enters the right side of the heart and passes through a hole into the left side. The clot can then move to an artery and cause arterial embolisation. Pathophysiology
An arterial embolism is caused by one or more emboli getting stuck in an artery and blocking blood flow, causing ischemia, possibly resulting in infarction with tissue death (necrosis).