title: The value of transesophageal echocardiography for embolic strokes of undetermined source.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in consecutive patients with ischemic stroke (IS) fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated consecutive patients with acute IS satisfying ESUS criteria who underwent in-hospital TEE examination in 3 tertiary care stroke centers during a 12-month period. We also performed a systematic review and meta-analysis estimating the cumulative effect of TEE findings on therapeutic management for secondary stroke prevention among different IS subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 61 patients with ESUS who underwent investigation with TEE (mean age 44 ± 12 years, 49% men, median NIH Stroke Scale score = 5 points [interquartile range: 3-8]). TEE revealed additional findings in 52% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 40%-65%) of the study population. TEE findings changed management (initiation of anticoagulation therapy, administration of IV antibiotic therapy, and patent foramen ovale closure) in 10 (16% [95% CI: 9%-28%]) patients. The pooled rate of reported anticoagulation therapy attributed to abnormal TEE findings among 3,562 acute IS patients included in the meta-analysis (12 studies) was 8.7% (95% CI: 7.3%-10.4%). In subgroup analysis, the rates of initiation of anticoagulation therapy on the basis of TEE investigation did not differ (p = 0.315) among patients with cryptogenic stroke (6.9% [95% CI: 4.9%-9.6%]), ESUS (8.1% [95% CI: 3.4%-18.1%]), and IS (9.4% [95% CI: 7.5%-11.8%]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal TEE findings may decisively affect the selection of appropriate therapeutic strategy in approximately 1 of 7 patients with ESUS.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Aristeidis H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Katsanos
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhole
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frogoudaki
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannopoulos
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Agathi-Rosa
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vrettou
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ignatios
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ikonomidis
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paraskevaidis
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parissis
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Athanassios P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kyritsis
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Anne W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Alexandrov
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Malkoff
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voumvourakis
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Andrei V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Alexandrov
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology (A.H.K., S.G., A.P.K.) and Second Department of Cardiology (K.P.), University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina; Second Department of Neurology (A.H.K., K.V., G.T.) and Second Department of Cardiology (A.F., A.-R.V., I.I., I.P., J.P.), Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Department of Neurology (R.B., N.G., A.W.A., M.D.M., A.V.A., G.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Australian Catholic University (A.W.A.), Sydney, Australia; First Department of Neurology (N.T.), Eginition University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; and International Clinical Research Center (G.T.), St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic. tsivgoulisgiorg@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsivgoulis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D013714:Tennessee; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants