EVALUATION OF TRANSTHORACIC AND TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Year 2001, Volume: 14 Issue: 1, 16 - 22, 03.12.2016

Neşe Tuncer Nazire Afşar Bahadır Dağdeviren Ayşe Özergin Sevinç Aktan

Abstract

Objective: Approximately 20% of all Ischemic
strokes are the result of an embolus originating
from the heart. Transthoracic echocardiography
(TTE) has long been used to evaluate the cardiac
source of emboli but recently transesophageal
echocardiography (TEE), which has higher yield
for detecting left atrium, aortic arch and left atrial
appendage lesions, Is recommended for the
assessment of patients with clinical risk factors
for cardioembolism or unexplained stroke.
Methods: In this study, the diagnostic yield of
TTE and TEE for detecting potential cardiac
sources of the embolus was compared in 46
consecutive patients (26 men and 20 women,
aged 23-84 years) with transient ischemic attack
(TIA) or acute ischemic stroke.
Results: TTE revealed a potential cardiac
source of embolism in 12 (26%) patients, all of
whom had clinical evidence of heart disease,
TEE detected potential cardiac sources of
embolism in 32 (69%) patients; 7 (21%) of these
had no clinical evidence of heart disease.
Conclusion: TEE is a superior technique to TTE
for identifying potential cardiac source of the
embolus and should be recommended for early
management and prevention of further stroke in
patients with underlying heart disease or
unexplained cerebrovascular accident.
Key Words: Ischemic stroke, Transthoracic
echocardiography, Transesophageal
echocardiography, Cardiac source of embolism.

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