[Abnormalities of the interatrial septum associated with cerebral ischemia in young adults: contribution of trans-oesophageal echocardiography].
BACKGROUND
About 40% of the mechanism of ischaemic stroke in young adults remains unclear. A paradoxical embolism associated with persistence of a patent foramen ovale and/or the presence of an atrial septal anevrysm are significantly more frequent in patients examined for ischaemic stroke of unknown cause than in control subjects.


OBJECTIVE
was to evaluate the contribution of trans-oesophageal echocardiography to the diagnosis of abnormalities of the interatrial septum and to identify the role played by this condition in unexplained ischemic stroke.


METHODS
In 30 consecutive patients, trans-oesophageal echocardiography recording were made during a saline contrast study.


RESULTS
Abnormalities of the interatrial septum was diagnosed in 23.3% cases. The proportion of patent foramen ovale was 10% (3 patients); atrial septal anevrysm was detected in 6.6%(2 patients). The prevalence of patent foramen ovale associated with atrial septal anevrysm was 6.6% (2 patients).


CONCLUSIONS
Transesophageal echocardiography with contrast appears to be an effective exam in diagnosis of abnomalities of the interatrial septum and our study was suggestive of their embolic nature.
Ben-Hamda
Khaldoun
K
Service de cardiologie, CHU Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisie.
Jemmali
Monia
M
Maatouk
Faouzi
F
Chebel
Saber
S
Majdoub
Mohamed
M
Maaoui
Sabri
S
Addad
Faouzi
F
Boughamoura
Amel
A
Dridi
Zohra
Z
Betbout
Fethi
F
Gamra
Habib
H
Frih
Mahbouba
M
Ben Farhat
Mohamed
M
D000328:Adult; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged