Characteristics of patent foramen ovale associated with cryptogenic stroke. A biplane transesophageal echocardiographic study.

Abstract

Patients with cryptogenic stroke have larger patent foramen ovale with more extensive right-to-left interatrial shunting than patients with stroke of determined cause. Transesophageal echocardiographically identifiable characteristics of patent foramen ovale may be important in defining the clinical significance of individual patent foramina.