Can trauma to the head cause a chalk shower resulting in microemboli?
Assume the person has had atrial fibrillation for years without
evidence of microemboli. I want to know if the head injury or the
truama of the head injury can cause microboli and it's resulting
diminished cognitive abilities?

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 26 May 2004 23:01 PDT

What's a chalk shower?

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Clarification of Question by jpde-ga on 27 May 2004 08:22 PDT

Microemboli is microscopic plaque or 'chalk' which breaks off the
inside of blood artiries, usually during Dx procedure or surgery(also
w/ somone w/ atrial fribillation) and flows through the blood to the
brain blocking tiny(hair size)blood vessels in the brain. This causes
'mini stoke' the cumulative effect being diminished cognitive function
(just like a big vessel stoke). One or two is not noticible but
research indicates that  a Dx procedure or heart surgery or someone w/
artial fibrillation  releases a large number or a 'shower'. Can it
also happen as a result of truma and/or does the trauma cause stress
and elevated blood pressure triggering a 'chalk shower'. I need some
research or article connecting the trauma and shower.

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 03 Jun 2004 10:18 PDT

Hi jpde-ga,

 Just so you know, hippocrates-ga, who commented below, is not a
Google Researcher. You can distinguish Google Researchers from
commenters by the color of the screen names. Researchers' names are
blue in color and are hyperlinked to their prior work. Commenters
often supply bits of an answer!
 Regards,
 crabcakes

The answer is Yes. However, it is rare.

"Arterial occlusions secondary to transactions or thromboembolism
following closed head injuries are uncommon occurrences."
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2820.htm

The answer does not address microemboli. I need research on trauma and
microemboli specifically.