What is a Paradoxical Embolism?

Definition: A stroke that occurs due to the unlikely, but possible, migration of a blood clot from a large vein (DVT), into the arteries that bring blood to the brain. Typical paradoxical strokes occur in people who have an an abnormal opening between the left and right upper chambers of the heart which is known as a patent foramen ovale, or PFO. The most common sources of blood clots that cause paradoxical strokes are the legs, pelvis, and arms.