Cranial thromboembolism secondary to patent foramen ovale and deep venous thrombosis after cesarean section.
BACKGROUND
Paradoxical embolism via a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a rare event in the puerperium as a cause of stroke.


METHODS
We report a 21-year-old, G4P3A1 woman with the symptoms of convulsion, stroke and unconsciousness 1 week after cesarean delivery. An infarction was detected in both frontal lobes, and echocardiography and MRI confirmed the PFO. Her follow-up course with low-molecular-weight heparin and then warfarin for 6 months was uneventful.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with an unexplained arterial event should be screened for PFO and possible paradoxical embolism.
Bodur
Harika
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kocaeli Medical School, Kocaeli, Turkey. harikabodur@yahoo.com
Caliskan
Eray
E
Anik
Yonca
Y
Cakiroglu
Yigit
Y
Corakci
Aydin
A
D000328:Adult; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology