Paradoxical emboli in elderly patients.
We report two elderly patients who each had a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and were considered to have had paradoxical emboli. In one patient the PFO was detected by contrast two-dimensional echocardiography, whereas in the other it was demonstrated at post-mortem examination. This is an unusual but treatable condition, particularly difficult to diagnose in older people and probably occurring more frequently than is generally suspected.
Vella
M
M
Department of Geriatric and General Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London.
McNabb
R
R
Lewis
R
R
Sulke
N
N
Poston
R
R
Lugon
M
M
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000209:etiology