Detection of cardioembolic sources with echocardiography.
Cerebral ischemic events remain a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Although the majority of patients with strokes have cerebrovascular disease, up to 20% of stroke patients have a cardioembolic source, especially younger patients or those with associated cardiac disease. TTE offers limited potential for identifying a cardioembolic source. In contrast, TEE is superior in detecting most cardioembolic sources and should be considered in stroke patients in whom there is a high clinical suspicion for a cardiac source of embolus and whose TTE is technically difficult or negative (Table 3).
Lindower
P D
PD
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Gutterman
D D
DD
D004452:Echocardiography; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*