When a blood clot lets loose on the arterial side of the circulation and lands in a vascular bed servicing an organ, a process called ischemia sets where the organ or a region of tissue is deprived of oxygen and vital nutrients.   There is very little time before injury and then often permanent damage occurs.  This is best exemplified by an embolic stroke.  In top hospitals there are “stroke teams” that rush in and try to make decisions based on rapid tests and apply interventional procedures and or clot busting medications within minutes.  The speed at which medical response teams act is similar to trauma surgery….