title: The pivotal role of echocardiography in cardiac sources of embolism.
abstract: Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and is the third commonest cause of death in Europe. Clinical history examination and basic investigations including an electrocardiogram may shed light on the potential cardiac cause. Echocardiography plays a pivotal role in the assessment of embolic stroke. The hierarchy of echocardiography investigations begins with a standard transthoracic echocardiography study and may be proceeded by a bubble contrast transthoracic and a transoesophageal echo study. This article discusses the crucial role echocardiography has assumed in the assessment of stroke patients and describes the cardiac sources responsible.
authors: Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB23 3RE, UK. bushra.rana@papworth.nhs.uk
authors: Bushra S
authors: BS
authors: Rana
authors: Mark J
authors: MJ
authors: Monaghan
authors: Liam
authors: L
authors: Ring
authors: Len S
authors: LS
authors: Shapiro
authors: Petros
authors: P
authors: Nihoyannopoulos
mesh_terms: D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*