Femoral signal intensity: a new method for prediction of embolic risk.
Mitral stenotic patients with left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LA SEC) are associated with high risk of thromboembolism. The aim of this study was to predict thromboembolic risk in mitral stenotic patients. Femoral artery signal intensity alteration (%) was compared among the groups. Group 1 had severe mitral stenosis with LA SEC and group 2 slight mitral stenosis without LA SEC. Group 3 patients had normal transthoracic echocardiography. Femoral artery longitudinal view was studied with a linear USG probe (7.5 MHz, HP 2500). The femoral cuff was inflated to 300 mmHg, 7-12 cm below the inguinal ligament. Cuff inflation resulted in femoral arterial blood stasis. Intraluminal signal intensity increased in seconds. The femoral signal intensity alteration (%) at 180 seconds was compared to baseline. After femoral cuff inflation, femoral signal intensity alteration (%) was significantly higher in group 1 than groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.001). Group 1 patients had higher thromboembolic risk on the basis of their echocardiographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters. Increased signal intensity alteration (%) can be detected in the femoral artery in mitral stenotic patients with LA SEC.
Department of Cardiology, Central Hospital, Bayrakli-Izmir 35000, Turkey.
Ertugrul
E
Ercan
Nezihi
N
Baris
Istemihan
I
Tengiz
H Ekin
HE
Ercan
O A
OA
Onbasili
Can
C
Duman
C Soydas
CS
Cinar
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012306:Risk; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*