title: [Evaluation of atrial septum aneurysm with transesophageal echocardiography in cardioembolic cerebral ischemia].
abstract: The prevalence and characteristics of atrial septal aneurysm were identified by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in a multicenter prospective study. One hundred and seventy-seven consecutive patients were evaluated in 2 years and 2 groups were compared: Group 1, 51 patients with documented cerebral ischemia event; Group 2, 126 patients affected by cardiac disease referred for other reasons. Group 1 included patients selected among 352 patients admitted to the Neurological and Geriatric Division of our Hospital in the period of this study. Patients with stroke-related carotid lesions and patients with a negative TC scan were excluded from this study. Atrial septal aneurysm was identified in 15 patients: 8 in Group 1 (16%), and 7 in Group 2 (5%), with a significant statistical difference between the groups (p = 0.02). All patients with atrial septal aneurysm underwent before TEE transthoracic echocardiography, leading to a correct diagnosis in 10 of 15 cases (66%); all patients underwent 24-hours ECG monitoring. A right to left shunt was detected by contrast echocardiography in 9 patients, 6 in Group 1 and 3 in Group 2, (NS). A more pronounced shunt was evident in Group 1. There was no difference between the 2 groups with regard to associated cardiac disease, arrhythmias and type of atrial septal aneurysm. The thickness of the septum was greater in Group 1, with significant statistical difference (p = 0.002). It is concluded that atrial septal aneurysm, diagnosed by TEE, is a potential source of embolic events.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Cardiologia, Ospedale Morgagni-Pierantoni, Forli.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Catapano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oldani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milandri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giondi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guidi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galletti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aquilina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
vernacular_title: Valutazione ecocardiografica transesofagea dell'aneurisma del setto interatriale nell'ischemia cerebrale cardioembolica.