A medical procedure that deliberately blocks blood vessels using various materials like coils, particles, or glue to stop bleeding or cut off blood supply to tumors. It can also refer to the pathological process where blood clots or other debris naturally block vessels.
From Greek 'embolos' meaning 'plug' or 'stopper' (literally 'that which is thrown in'), combined with the suffix '-ization.' The medical term emerged in the 20th century as interventional radiology techniques developed for treating vascular conditions.
Embolization can stop life-threatening bleeding without surgery by using materials as simple as tiny metal coils that act like springs, causing blood to clot around them! This technique has saved countless lives in trauma cases where traditional surgery would be too risky.
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