1997 Volume 19 Issue 4 Pages 280-286
We diagnosed patent formen ovale by contrast transesophageal echocardiography with the Valsalva maneuver in cardioembolic stroke and cerebral embolism with unknown embolic sources. Patent foramen ovale was diagnosed in 4 (12%) of 33 cases with cardioembolic stroke, and in 6 (67%) of 9 cases. with cerebral embolism with unknown embolic sources. The prevalence of patent foramen ovale was thus higher in the cases with cerebral embolism with unknown embolic sources. Cryptogenic stroke with patent foramen ovale was considered to represent paradoxical cerebral embolism. Paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale arose in younger and elder patients (aged from 33 to 70). Regardless of patient age contrast transesophageal echocardiography should be considered for the detection of patent foramen ovale in cases of cryptogenic stroke, especially cerebral embolism with unknown embolic sources.
