Prevalence of Patent Foramen Ovale and Stroke in Patients with Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

All patients with stroke had a PFO.

French investigators examined the relationship between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and stroke in 41 consecutive patients hospitalized with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE; defined according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines) during a 9-month period. Patients underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and brain magnetic resonance imaging.

The transesophageal approach identified PFO in 56% of patients, compared to 20% with the transthoracic approach. Recent stroke was detected in 17% of patients, all of whom had a large PFO diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography.

Citation(s):

Doyen D et al. Patent foramen ovale and stroke in intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism. Chest 2014 May 29; [e-pub ahead of print].