Why the study?
Does echocardiography improve the detection of heart disease and possible embolic sources in patients with transitory cerebral ischemic attack or stroke?
Does echocardiography improve the detection of heart disease and possible embolic sources in patients with transitory cerebral ischemic attack or stroke?
Echocardiography is a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying previously undetected cardiac sources of embolism in patients presenting with TIA or stroke.
Echocardiography may identify occult cardiac sources in TIA/stroke; leaves open whether routine use improves outcomes.
The association of heart disease and cerebral ischemic attacks, and the usefulness of echocardiography in detecting heart disease and possible embolic source, were studied in 194 patients with transitory cerebral ischemic attack or stroke. The study revealed 95 patients with heart disease, and 63 of them had positive echocardiographic findings. All together, 35 patients had heart disease as a probable source for systemic embolism. An undetected cardiac disorder, not found by clinical examination or electrocardiography, was detected in 25 patients. The cardiac disorder found by echocardiography only, was most frequently aortic and mitral valve disease. Thus, echocardiography is an useful tool in detecting heart disease in these patients.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Todnem et al. (2009) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: