Cardiologia (Rome, Italy)
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Feb 1994
[Transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of patients with atrial fibrillation and stroke].
Cardiac evaluation of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients includes transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography to identify potential cardiac source of embolism. In the present study transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 53 consecutive patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation and a previous embolic stroke. All patients were referred to our department because of an episode of atrial fibrillation. ⋯ The mitral valve analysis showed a leaflet prolapse in 3 patients. The entire thoracic aorta was imaged in each patient: in 12 an abnormal atherosclerotic plaque was found. Transesophageal echocardiography is an important component of the comprehensive evaluation of potential sources of embolism in patients with ischemic cerebral attack and nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation.