Journal of cardiovascular medicine
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Aug 2011
Cryptogenic cerebral ischemia: clinical usefulness of a flexible ultrasound diagnostic algorithm for detection of patent foramen ovale.
Paradoxical thromboembolism across a patent foramen ovale (PFO) may be involved in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic strokes. We tested the feasibility and the clinical usefulness of an early screening for PFO combining different ultrasound techniques in patients with acute cerebral ischemia of undetermined cause. ⋯ A combined ultrasound approach based on a flexible diagnostic algorithm improved our ability to detect a PFO or alternative stroke cause in patients with acute cerebral ischemia of undetermined cause and to optimize secondary stroke prevention.