Affiliation:
1. Department of Neurology, University of Giessen, Germany.
Abstract
Patent foramen ovale as a possible stroke risk factor can be diagnosed with transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) by detecting intravenous contrast medium crossing from the right to the left atrium. The present study evaluates the reliability of this method.
We performed TCD and transesophageal echocardiography simultaneously in 50 patients using galactose microbubbles. We observed bubble signals passing the middle cerebral artery in 7 patients less than 20 seconds after injection; we found positive TCD tests in 14 patients using the Valsalva maneuver. With transesophageal echocardiography patent foramen ovale could be detected in 15 patients (sensitivity, 0.93; specificity, 1; P < .01).
TCD with echo contrast is a reliable screening tool for patent foramen ovale. A standardized procedure including the Valsalva maneuver is essential to prevent false-negative results.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Advanced and Specialised Nursing,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine,Clinical Neurology
Cited by
142 articles.
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