[Transoesophageal echocardiography for the study of potential sources of cardiovascular emboli--utility in patients with idiopathic stroke].
Approximately 25% of cerebral infarction is cardioembolic in nature. Transoesophageal echocardiography is widely regarded as the initial study of choice for evaluating cardiac source of embolism. We studied the records of 83 consecutive patients referred to our Neurologic Ward between January 2000 and October 2006 with diagnosis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease of unknown cause (cryptogenetic strokes). A potential cardiac of emboli source was found in 36.1% of the patients. Atrial septal abnormalities and aortic plaques accounted for most of the detected findings. Our experience suggests that routine transoesophageal echocardiography in this setting is of value and has a high impact on clinical management.
Dipartimento dell'Alta Specialità del Cuore, Azienda Ospedaliera San Carlo, Potenza. Adriano77@alice.it
Italo
I
De Tommaso
Ugo
U
Vairo
Domenico
D
Mecca
D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors