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Cardiac Source of Embolism

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Anatomic Basis of Echocardiographic Diagnosis

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Abstract

Stroke is the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. Its prevalence increases with age, affecting about 5% of people over 65 years of age. Stroke is frequently associated with severe long-term disability. There are multiple causes of stroke, and determination of the etiology of stroke is important for the acute management and the prevention of recurrent events. About 20% of strokes are believed to be embolic in nature related to cardiac abnormalities [1]. Another 30% are considered cryptogenic with no clear etiology. Many cryptogenic strokes may also be embolic in nature [2]. Thus, assessment for cardiac sources of embolism should be an integral part of the investigation of patients who have had a stroke.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heart Institute Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa, Ruskin Street 40, K1Y 4W7, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Dr. Kwan-Leung Chan

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus Carling Ave. 1053, K1Y 4E9, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Dr. John P. Veinot

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Correspondence to Kwan-Leung Chan .

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Chan, KL., Veinot, J.P. (2010). Cardiac Source of Embolism. In: Anatomic Basis of Echocardiographic Diagnosis. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-387-9_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-387-9_15

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-386-2

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