Transcatheter atrial septal defect closure in a patient with paradoxical brain emboli: who should treat it and who should be treated?

Cardiovasc Interv Ther. 2012 Sep;27(3):214-7. doi: 10.1007/s12928-012-0111-6. Epub 2012 Jul 10.

Abstract

This report presents the case of a 51-year-old female who was admitted to a local hospital because of a persistent headache. A diagnosis of multiple cerebral infarctions was thereafter made, but there was no evidence of either atherosclerosis or atrial fibrillation. The case was thought to be a cryptogenic stroke, however, Doppler ultrasonography of the lower extremities showed venous insufficiency. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) with a left to right shunt. Therefore, the final diagnosis was paradoxical brain emboli, and transcatheter ASD closure was successfully performed by cardiologists without any sequelae.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cardiac Catheterization / methods*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Embolism, Paradoxical / surgery*
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / complications
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Embolism / complications*
  • Intracranial Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke / etiology*
  • Treatment Outcome