Anticoagulants, given as an injection or orally, can also prevent a stationary clot from breaking off and moving into the bloodstream. If drugs do not work to dissolve a clot that is in a blood vessel, surgery is usually required. A tube is inserted into the artery, and the clot is sucked out mechanically. A person who has had a heart attack or stroke due to an embolism may need more serious surgery. Stages and progress The seriousness of an embolism depends on its size and location.
Some small clots break up by themselves as they move through the blood stream.
If, however, a major artery is blocked, surrounding tissues do not get enough blood. This region can be permanently damaged and may become dead tissue. Organs that have many sources of blood can often survive an embolism with no problem. The brain , heart , lungs , and kidneys , however, are often seriously damaged if there is a sudden lack of blood because of an embolism. Then a heart attack, stroke , or kidney failure may result.