Transesophageal echocardiography in the detection of intracardiac embolic sources in patients with transient ischemic attacks.
Why the study?
Does transesophageal echocardiography improve the detection of intracardiac embolic sources compared to precordial echocardiography in patients with transient ischemic attacks or nondisabling stroke?
Population
72 consecutive patients with a recent unequivocal transient ischemic attack or nondisabling stroke. Group 1…
Comparison
Transesophageal echocardiography vs Precordial (transthoracic) echocardiography
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
May support TEE for higher embolic source detection in TIA/stroke; leaves open impact on management or outcomes.
Structured PICO
Does transesophageal echocardiography improve the detection of intracardiac embolic sources compared to precordial echocardiography in patients with transient ischemic attacks or nondisabling stroke?
P
Population
72 consecutive patients with a recent unequivocal transient ischemic attack or nondisabling stroke. Group 1 (n = 53) had no clinical cardiac abnormality, and group 2 (n = 19) had abnormal cardiac findings upon clinical examination.
I
Intervention
Transesophageal echocardiography
C
Comparator
Precordial (transthoracic) echocardiography
O
Outcome
Detection of potential intracardiac sources of cerebral embolisurrogate
Transesophageal echocardiography significantly increases the diagnostic yield for visualizing potential intracardiac sources of emboli and aortic plaques compared with precordial echocardiography in patients with recent TIA or stroke.
Limitations
- The number of abnormal transesophageal echocardiographic findings is not high
- A causative relation with transient ischemic attacks cannot be proven
Cite This Study
Pop et al. (1990) studied this question.