An echocardiographic study in patients with non haemorrhagic cerebral infarction to find cardiac abnormalities

Background: Strokes are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Majority are due to ischemic cerebral infarction. Ischemia may result from occlusion of blood vessels due to a disease process intrinsic to carotid and intracranial vessels or may relate to coexisting heart diseases, predisposing to embolic phenomenon. Objective: Echocardiographic study in patients with cerebrovascular accident, confirmed to be of non hemorrhagic nature on CT scan/MRI, for evidence of potential cardiac abnormalities as a predisposing cause for the vascular event. Material and Methods: An observational study was conducted in department of medicine, GNDH, Amritsar. 50 patients of ischemic stroke were taken and 2D transthoracic echocardiography was done to find potential cardioembolic abnormalities. Results: 76% of patients had echocardiographic abnormalities and 42% had potential cardioembolic abnormalities, out of which most common were ventricular wall hypokinesia, calcific aortic valve, rheumatic heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy. The prevalence was almost similar in different age groups and both the sexes. Conclusion: Prevalence of potential cardioembolic abnormalities is high (42%) in ischemic stroke patients and 2D echocardiography is therefore recommended in the management and secondary prevention of cardioembolic stroke, which has a higher mortality and more chances of recurrence than atherothrombotic type of ischemic stroke.