Clinical impact of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with stroke without clinical evidence of cardiovascular sources of emboli

• Main Author: Tatani,Solange Bernardes
• Publication Date: 2001
• Other Authors: Fukujima,Márcia Maiumi, Lima,João Augusto Costa, Ferreira,Luiz Darcy Cortez, Ghefter,Claudia G. Monaco, Prado,Gilmar Fernandes, Babayan,Zara, Azevedo,Lyamara Apostólico de
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia (Online)
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0066-782X2001000600003
• topic: transeophageal echocardiography; stroke; embolism

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of transeophageal echocardiography on management of patients at low-risk for cardiogenic embolism to prevent new potential cardiovascular sources of emboli. METHODS: We studied 69 patients with ischemic stroke at low-risk for cardiogenic embolism. Transeophageal echocardiography was performed to access: left atrium enlargement; communication or aneurysm of the interatrial septum; patent foramen ovale; spontaneous echo contrast or intracavitary thrombi; the presence of intraaortic atherosclerotic plaques or thrombi; significant valvar morphologic alteration or dysfunction; left ventricle enlargement, hypertrophy, or contractile abnormality. Transesophageal echocardiography altered clinical management, and we adopted anticoagulant therapy or another procedure apart from the use of acetylsalicylic acid. RESULTS: Transeophageal echocardiography detected at least one abnormality in 40 cases (58%). Clinical conduct was adjusted after the performance of transesophageal echocardiography in 11 patients (15.9%); anticoagulation was added in 10 cases and surgical correction in one patient. CONCLUSION: Transeophageal echocardiography was a very useful tool in the secondary prevention for stroke in patients at low risk for cardiogenic embolism.