Prevalence of the patent foramen ovale in young patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease: Transesophageal contrast echocardiographic study.
10.4070/kcj.1993.23.2.217
- Author:
Byung Hee OH
;
Seung Woo PARK
;
Young Jin CHOI
;
Seong Hoe KOO
;
Cheol Ho KIM
;
Dae Won SOHN
;
Myoung Mook LEE
;
Yun Shik CHOI
;
Jung Don SEO
;
Young Woo LEE
;
Seong Ho PARK
;
Han Bo LEE
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Patent foramen ovale;
Ischemic cerebrovascular disease;
Transesophageal contrast echocardiography
- MeSH:
Contrast Media;
Cough;
Echocardiography*;
Embolism, Paradoxical;
Foramen Ovale, Patent*;
Humans;
Microbubbles;
Prevalence*;
Risk Factors;
Valsalva Maneuver
- From:Korean Circulation Journal
1993;23(2):217-222
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: A paradoxical embolism through the patent foramen ovale has been suggested as a possible cause of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in young patients without other cardiovascular risk factors, however, the transesophageal contrast echocardiographic examination is proved to be sensitive and accurate to detect the patent foramen ovale in vivo by demonstration a right-to-left shunting of microbubbles at the interatrial septum. METHODS: Transesophageal contrast echocardiographic examinations were performed in 16 young patients(32+/-6 years, 19~39) with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases without other cardiovascular risk factors. Contrast agents were injected twice in each patients, one with Valsalva maneuver and the other with coughing and the presence of the patent foramen ovale was confirmed by demonstrating echogenic contrast crossing the interatrial septum. RESULTS: The patent foramen ovale was demonstrated in five of sixteen patients(31.2%) during transesophageal contrast echocardiographic examination. Although the prevalence of the patent foramen ovale in normal population has not been examined in this study, the prevalence in patient group appears to be significantly higher than that of normal population. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, a paradoxical embolism through the patent foramen oval appears to be one of the causative factors and a transesophageal contrast echocardiography is recommended especially in young ischemic cerebrovascular disease patients who have normal transesophageal echocardiographic findings and no known risk factors.
