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| Transthoracic echocardiography helpful in ischaemic stroke |
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15 August 2005
Transthoracic echocardiography performed on ischemic stroke patients in sinus rhythm yields relevant diagnostic information in about one out of every three, researchers report.
Recent recommendations on the management of acute stroke do not specify the use of echocardiography, Dr Tiago Tribolet de Abreu and his associates note in their paper, published in the July issue of Stroke. Their prospective observational study was designed to determine whether echocardiography in stroke patients without atrial fibrillation would aid in treatment decision-making.
Of 846 stroke patients referred to their unit at the Hospital do Espirito Santo-Evora in Evora, Portugal, 435 were in sinus rhythm. Results showed that in 37.2% of these patients, echocardiography revealed abnormalities for which anticoagulation would be beneficial, such as dilated cardiopathy, anterior wall dyskinesis, and reduced ejection fraction.
The authors acknowledge that while many of these indications would be suspected on the basis of clinical grounds, echocardiography would be required for confirmation. And even for patients with a history of MI, an echocardiogram would clarify the degree of anterior wall motion abnormalities. Although these results must be confirmed in other ischaemic stroke populations. The authors believe these results support the transthoracic echocardiogram as a compulsory examination on all acute ischaemic stroke patients.
Reference:
Stroke 2005; 36 (7): 1565-1566.
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