Click Here to return To Results

 

Enhanced Detection of Intracardiac Sources of Cerebral Emboli by Transeophageal Echocardiography Stroke 22:734-739, Lee,R.J.,et al, 1991 See this aricle in Pubmed Article Abstract We performed transesophageal echocardiography in 50 consecutive hospitalized patients with recent transient ischemic attack or stroke of embolic origin to determine whether transesophageal echocardiography is more sensitive than transthoracic echocardiography in detection of possible intracardiac sources of embolism.Twenty-six of 50 patients with a negative transthoracic echocardiogram for potential source of emboli had a transesophageal echocardiography study that demonstrated at least one intracardiac abnormality.Abnormalities noted by transesophageal echocardiography included five of 50 patients with either a left atrial or left atrial appendage clot,four patients with a patent foramen ovale,and nine patients with spontaneous echocardiographic contrast.In 11 of 50 patients with no other source of embolism,we found highly mobile filamentous strands on the mitral valve,which have not been described previously.These mitral valve echo strands may represent a fissured surface or librosis that can serve as a nidus for thrombus formation.We detected no unexpected left ventricular thrombosis or left atrial myxoma. Factors significantly associated with a greater likelihood of a positive transesophageal echocardiography study included left atrial enlargement, atrial fibrillation,and a calcified or thickened mitral valve.Our study suggests that transesophageal echocardiography is a valuable addition to transthoracic echocardiography in investigating potential intracardiac sources of embolism.

Related Tags

(click to filter results - removes previous filter) atrial enlargement atrial fibrillation cerebral embolism cerebral embolism,cardiac origin cerebrovascular accident echocardiogram echocardiogram,transesophageal embolism mitral valve lesion transient ischemic attack

Click Here to return To Results