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

Solange Bernardes Tatani, Márcia Maiumi Fukujima, João Augusto Costa Lima, Luiz Darcy Cortez Ferreira, Claudia G. Monaco Ghefter, Gilmar Fernandas Prado, Zara Babayan, Lyamara Apostólico De Azevedo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

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 ischemia 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 ofacetylsalicylic 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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)458-461
Number of pages4
JournalArquivos brasileiros de cardiologia
Volume76
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Embolism
  • Stroke
  • Transeophageal echocardiography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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