title: Paradoxical emboli in elderly patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and General Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McNabb
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sulke
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poston
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lugon
mesh_terms: 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