[Presence of patent foramen ovale in different heart diseases: incidence in 211 consecutive patients studied by transesophageal echocardiography].
BACKGROUND
Contrast echocardiography during the decompression phase of the Valsalva manoeuvre in course of transesophageal echo study is the ideal method to identify patent foramen ovale.


METHODS
In order to evaluate the incidence of patent foramen ovale in patients with different cardiac diseases we performed contrast injection in 211 consecutive pts submitted to TEE (Transesophageal Echocardiography) in our laboratory between march 1991 and march 1993.


RESULTS
Fiftythree of 211 pts (25%) presented a patent foramen ovale. The incidence in the different cardiac diseases was as follows: 0% in rheumatic mitral disease, 23% in aortic valve disease, 17% in mitral and/or aortic valve prosthesis, 29% in congenital heart disease other than interatrial septal defect, 44% in mitral valve prolapse and 92% in atrial septal aneurysm.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that patent foramen ovale is a common finding in different cardiac pathologies and frequent in mitral valve prolapse and even more in atrial septal aneurysm. In case of peripheral embolism of likely cardiac origin, the patency of the foramen ovale must be recognized, especially when these two latter cardiac anomalies are identified.
Jacopi
F
F
Servizio di Cardiologia, Ospedale per gli Infermi, Faenza.
Varani
E
E
Tani
F
F
Balducelli
M
M
Ponzo
A M
AM
Maresta
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications
Presenza di forame ovale pervio in diverse cardiopatie: incidenza in 211 pazienti consecutivi studiati con eco transesofageo.