title: [Abnormalities of the interatrial septum associated with cerebral ischemia in young adults: contribution of trans-oesophageal echocardiography].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie, CHU Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Khaldoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ben-Hamda
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jemmali
authors.forename: Faouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maatouk
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chebel
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majdoub
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maaoui
authors.forename: Faouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Addad
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boughamoura
authors.forename: Zohra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dridi
authors.forename: Fethi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Betbout
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gamra
authors.forename: Mahbouba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frih
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Farhat
mesh_terms: 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