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Is patent foramen ovale a family trait? A transcranial Doppler sonographic study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a frequent finding in young patients with stroke. The aim of this study was to assess whether PFO is a family trait. METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive patients younger than 60 years of age with ischemic stroke and 62 age and gender-matched control siblings were examined by means of contrast transcranial Doppler (TCD) of the middle cerebral artery, using a standardized protocol. The reliability of TCD examination in our laboratory was assessed against transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). All TCD recordings were reviewed by a blinded experienced observer from another center. Disagreements between readers were resolved by unblinded consensus review. RESULTS: Siblings of patients with PFO had a significantly higher prevalence of PFO than had siblings of patients without PFO (61.5% versus 30.6%; OR 3.64 [1.3 to 10.5]; P=0.015). The kappa statistics indicated that agreement of pairs (patients/control siblings) was not due to chance. The strength of the association was sex dependent. In women pairs, prevalence of a PFO was 76.5% in siblings of patients with PFO and 25% in siblings of patients without PFO, giving an OR of 9.8 (95% CI 2 to 47.9; P<0.01). In contrast, in men, no significant difference was observed in the prevalence of PFO between siblings of patients with or without PFO (respectively 33.3% and 35%), giving an OR of 0.9 (95% CI 0.2 to 4.9; P=0.9). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that, in women, PFO is a family trait.

Adult↗

Transesophageal echocardiography for quantifying size of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic cerebrovascular events.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for paradoxical embolism, and severe shunting and wide opening of PFO are risk factors for severe and recurrent cerebrovascular events. Neither contrast echocardiography nor 2-dimensional (2D) measurement of PFO size have been validated or compared with invasive balloon sizing. METHODS: We performed transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 100 patients with cryptogenic stroke and catheter closure of PFO. The amount of contrast shunting through the PFO during cubital and femoral contrast delivery and the PFO size measured by 2D TEE were compared with balloon sizing. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation (r(2)=0.8; P<0.0001) between 2D TEE measurement and invasive balloon sizing. Mean balloon-sized PFO diameter was significantly larger than mean PFO diameter measured by 2D TEE (8.3+/-2.6 versus 5.2+/-1.7 mm). Semiquantitative contrast TEE correlated with PFO size (r(2)=0.7; P<0.0001) only if the contrast agent was administered through a femoral vein. Correlation was poor when the contrast agent was administered via a cubital vein. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 2D TEE measurement of a PFO size is more accurate than the traditionally used contrast technique.

Adolescent↗

Clinical and imaging findings in cryptogenic stroke patients with and without patent foramen ovale: the PFO-ASA Study. Atrial Septal Aneurysm.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been identified as a potential risk factor for stroke, but the mechanisms of PFO-associated stroke remain unsettled. The aim of our study was to evaluate possible differences in stroke risk factors and stroke patterns between patients with and without PFO that may give clues to the mechanism of PFO-associated stroke. METHODS: This prospective, multicentric study involved 581 young cryptogenic stroke patients. The presence of PFO and atrial septal aneurysm was assessed by transesophageal echocardiography and reviewed independently by 2 experienced sonographers. Clinical, brain, and vascular imaging findings were reviewed by 2 neurologists and 2 neuroradiologists. RESULTS: Of the 581 stroke patients, 267 (45.9%) had PFO. Patients with PFO were younger (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93 to 0.97) and less likely to have traditional risk factors such as hypertension (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.85), hypercholesterolemia (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.93), or current smoking (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.97). Features suggestive of paradoxical embolism, such as Valsalva-provoking activities or deep vein thrombosis, were not more frequent in patients with PFO. Migraine was more common in patients with PFO (27.3%) than in those without PFO (14.0%). PFO (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.82), particularly when associated with atrial septal aneurysm (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.36 to 5.41), was significantly associated with migraine after adjustment for age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in stroke risk factors and stroke patterns suggest that different stroke mechanisms occur in patients with and without PFO. PFO is significantly and independently associated with migraine, and this association is even stronger in patients with PFO and atrial septal aneurysm.

Adult↗

Left ventricular pacemaker lead insertion through the foramen ovale--a case report.

This report describes a patient with a 6-year-old pacemaker lead in the left ventricle. Both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography unequivocally showed that the lead enters the left ventricle via the foramen ovale and the mitral valve. The patient did not suffer from a thromboembolic event; therefore, we did not proceed with extraction. The importance of this case report is to emphasize the conditions and precautions of proper pacemaker implantation.

Aged↗

Arterial grafting through the obturator foramen in secondary hemorrhage from the femoral vessels.

Secondary hemorrhage from the groin is a life-threatening situation with a high risk of amputation if the limb is not revascularized after controlling the bleeding. Three cases are described in which grafting via the obturator foramen was used to achieve iliofemoral bypass in patients with secondary hemorrhage from the femoral vessels. Obturator bypass has previously mainly been used in the management of infective complications in the groin after arterial grafting procedures. The previously reported cases are reviewed with special reference to the indications for the procedure in situations unrelated to previous reconstructive vascular surgery.

Aged↗

Facial nerve: vascular-related anatomy at the stylomastoid foramen.

We dissected 30 facial nerves in fresh cadavers after arterial casting with red latex to provide specific information about the arterial-related anatomy of the trunk of the facial nerve from the stylomastoid foramen to its bifurcation. We found that a wide anatomic variability does exist. The trunk of the facial nerve was in proximity to the stylomastoid artery, which originated from the posterior auricular artery in 70% of the specimens (21/30), from the occipital artery in 20% (6/30), and directly from the external carotid artery in 10% (3/30). The stylomastoid artery passed medially to the trunk of the facial nerve in 63 of the specimens (19/30) and laterally in 37% (11/30). Among these 11 specimens, 8 were large-caliber stylomastoid arteries. During parotid surgery, the main trunk of the facial nerve may be difficult to identify, because a large-caliber stylomastoid artery can mask it. Therefore, it is important to dissect this artery with caution.

Facial Nerve↗

Schwannoma of the jugular foramen.

Two cases of schwannoma limited to the jugular foramen are described. This entity may clinically and radiologically resemble glomus jugulare tumors so closely, that only careful histological examination of an adequate surgical tumor specimen can provide a definitive diagnosis. Since documentation of this form of neurogenic tumor is lacking in the literature, it suggests that the entity is very rare or that such tumors may be erroneously classified as glomus jugulare tumors. The two cases in this study were managed surgically by subtotal removal via a wide transmastoid approach.

Adolescent↗

Neurilemoma of the jugular foramen. Transmastoid removal.

The authors present two cases in which the palsies of the IX, X, XI and XII nerves heralded the presence of a neurilemoma within the jugular foramen. Temporary bone polytomography, retrograde jugular venography, and pantopaque posterior fossa myelography allowed the nature and extent of the tumor to be predicted accurately prior to the operation. The tumors were completely removed using a transmastoid-extended facial recess approach without labyrinthectomy, supplemented in one case by exploration of the upper cervical portion of the internal jugular vein. This technique has avoided the complications which attend removal by way of the posterior fossa. We feel that transmastoid removal merits more extensive clinical trial.

Accessory Nerve↗

Electrocochleographic changes in endolymphatic hydrops induced by type II collagen immunization through the stylomastoid foramen.

Changes in action potential (AP) and summating potential (SP) were investigated in guinea pigs immunized with type II collagen through the stylomastoid foramen. Endolymphatic hydrops could be induced in four of 11 guinea pigs. The striking feature of the electrocochleographic waveform in guinea pigs with endolymphatic hydrops was the negative SP recording in response to high frequency tone bursts. Furthermore, abnormal changes in AP were observed in three of four hydropic guinea pigs. Morphologic study of the cochleas in these three guinea pigs with light microscopy revealed spiral ganglion cell degeneration in addition to endolymphatic hydrops and almost normal sensory hair cells. These results suggest that guinea pigs with hydrops as produced by our procedure can serve as a useful model of Meniere's disease, that autoimmune response may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of Meniere's disease, and that spiral ganglion cell degeneration together with endolymphatic hydrops seems to contribute to abnormal changes in AP.

Action Potentials↗

Lower cranial nerve schwannomas involving the jugular foramen.

Schwannomas involving the jugular foramen are rare lesions, and no consensus exists on their management. This paper reports on 20 such cases treated in our centers. Nineteen cases were operated on for removal of the tumors, and the remaining case is being managed by watchful expectancy. Fifteen cases were operated on by the petro-occipital trans-sigmoid approach with or without labyrinthectomy, 2 by the infratemporal fossa approach, 1 by the modified transcochlear approach, and 1 by the jugulo-petrosectomy approach. The petro-occipital trans-sigmoid approach allowed single-stage, total tumor removal with preservation of the facial nerve and of middle and inner ear functions. Lower cranial nerve paralysis was the major complication and seemed to be inherent to the disease rather than to the approach used. No cerebrospinal fluid leak or meningitis occurred in the present series. So far, no recurrence has been detected.

Adult↗

Meningiomas of the jugular foramen.

Meningiomas of the jugular foramen manifest the same signs and symptoms as glomus jugulare tumors. They arise from arachnoid cells lining the jugular bulb and grow slowly, infiltrating the temporal bone and posterior fossa. These lesions, however, are more clinically treacherous than glomus tumors. Meningiomas infiltrate surrounding bone and nerve tissue and require wide margins of resection to prevent recurrence. Eight of these lesions have been managed in the past 5 years at the House Ear Clinic using modern imaging and skull base techniques. Two have recurred after "total" microsurgical removal. Presentation, radiologic evaluation, and management guidelines are reviewed.

Adult↗

Power m-mode transcranial Doppler for diagnosis of patent foramen ovale and assessing transcatheter closure.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) can benefit from a less invasive diagnostic method than transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Thirty-three gate power m-mode transcranial Doppler (pmTCD) was evaluated for its accuracy in diagnosis of PFO and utility in evaluating residual intracardiac right-to-left shunt (RLS) following transcatheter closure. METHODS: The sensitivity of pmTCD and single-gate TCD (sgTCD) to detect contrast bubble emboli through RLS was compared during transcatheter PFO closure. During 100 preclosure diagnostic evaluations and in 81 postclosure assessments, embolic tracks on pmTCD were counted following intravenous contrast injections and were graded using a 6-level logarithmic scale. The accuracy of TEE and pmTCD was separately compared to PFO anatomical findings during transcatheter closures. RESULTS: There were significantly more microemboli detectable on pmTCD (322 +/- 166; 95% confidence interval [CI], 388-257) than on sgTCD (186 +/- 109; 95% CI, 229-143; P < .001). McNemar change tests suggest that the diagnostic capabilities of pmTCD and TEE for detecting PFO are comparable and correspond to the anatomical findings determined during cardiac catheterization (P = .69 and .45, respectively). During 6-month postclosure evaluation (mean = 185 days), 66% of the patients demonstrated successful closure without significant RLS (ie, grades 0, I, or II), and 34% were found to have incomplete closure with significant RLS (ie, grades III, IV, or V). CONCLUSIONS: pmTCD provides greater sensitivity to contrast bubble emboli than does sgTCD. Among candidates for transcatheter closure, pmTCD provides an improved noninvasive method for diagnosing PFO and evaluating transcatheter closure.

Adolescent↗

Velocity of microemboli and transit time from the heart to the brain in patients with patent foramen ovale and artificial heart valves.

There is no information about the physical behavior of microemboli en route from their source to the cerebral vessels. Microemboli could abide to a certain laminae, and have a consistent velocity, or wander between different laminae, and keep changing their velocity. Two hundred and seventy four microemboli were recorded by transcranial Doppler (TCD) in six patients with artificial valves, and 119 microemboli were recorded in response to i.v. injection of saline agitated with air in eight patent foramen ovale (PFO) patients. Transit time of microemboli, calculated based on their arrival time at the cerebral vessel (site of monitoring) was explored as a possible function of their measured velocity at the detection point. In the PFO group, the relation between embolus velocity and transit time was: embolus velocityPFO = -41.8 * transit time + 100.6, whereas for the artificial heart valve group it was: embolus velocityValve = -22.6 * transit time + 67.1. Transit time, in both clinical groups, was inversely related to velocity (p < 0.001), thus, early appearing emboli had higher velocity and vice versa. The inverse relation between transit time and measured terminal velocity implies a consistent velocity per microemboli en route, in both groups. Thus, a flow abided to a certain laminae seems to characterize microemboli.

Adult↗

Distribution of artificial cerebral microemboli in stroke patients with patent foramen ovale.

OBJECTIVES: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is considered as an important risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the relationship between the distribution of high-intensity transient signals (HITS), resulting from injection of air mixed with saline and detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD), and clinical cerebrovascular syndromes in these patients has not been investigated. METHODS: Using TCD, we screened 40 patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), in whom PFO was proven by transesophageal echocariography (TEE). Of these, 30 patients (75%) with artificially produced HITS either in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) or the basilar artery (BA) were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Nineteen patients had a stroke or TIA in the carotid territory and 11 patients in the vertebro-basilar territory. HITS were found in the MCA in all 30 patients and in 21 of the 30 patients in the BA. Of the latter, ten patients were in the carotid group and 11 patients were in the veretebro-basilar group, p = 0.011. CONCLUSION: There is a significant association between the distribution of artificial HITS and the clinical cerebrovascular syndromes.

Adult↗

Practice parameter: recurrent stroke with patent foramen ovale and atrial septal aneurysm: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To evaluate the risk of subsequent stroke or death in patients with a cryptogenic stroke and a patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal aneurysm (ASA), or both. 2) To establish the optimal method of stroke prevention in this population of patients. METHODS: MEDLINE, the Cochrane database of systematic reviews, key meeting abstracts from 1997 to 2002, and relevant reference lists were searched to select studies that prospectively collected outcome data in cryptogenic stroke patients with and without interatrial septal abnormalities. Studies were also selected that prospectively compared at least two treatment options. The quality of each study was graded (class I to IV) using a standard classification-of-evidence scheme for each question. Risk analyses were performed and data were pooled when appropriate. RESULTS: The literature search generated 129 articles of which only four fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two studies were graded class I, one study was graded class II, and one study was graded class IV for prognosis. Pooled results of the two class I and one class II studies demonstrated no increased risk of subsequent stroke or death in patients with PFO compared to those without (RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.44). One class I study found increased risk of recurrent stroke in patients with PFO and ASA (annual rate = 3.8% versus 1.05%, RR = 2.98, 95% CI 1.17 to 7.58) but not increased risk of a composite of stroke and death (annual rate = 3.8% versus 1.8%, RR = 2.10, 95% CI 0.86 to 5.06). Regarding therapy, one study was graded class II, one study class III, and two studies class IV. Among patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO or ASA, there was no significant difference in stroke or death rate in warfarin-treated patients relative to aspirin-treated patients and the confidence intervals were unable to rule out a benefit of one drug over the other (annual rate = 4.7% versus 8.9%, RR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.58). Minor bleeding rates were higher in the cohort of patients who received warfarin (22.9/100 patient-years versus 8.66/100 patient-years, rate ratio = 2.64, p < 0.001). No studies compared medical therapy with surgical or endovascular closure. CONCLUSION: PFO is not associated with increased risk of subsequent stroke or death among medically treated patients with cryptogenic stroke. However, both PFO and ASA possibly increase the risk of subsequent stroke (but not death) in medically treated patients younger than 55 years. In patients with a cryptogenic stroke and an atrial septal abnormality the evidence is insufficient to determine if warfarin or aspirin is superior in preventing recurrent stroke or death, but minor bleeding is more frequent with warfarin. There is insufficient evidence to evaluate the efficacy of surgical or endovascular closure.

Adult↗

Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale reduces the frequency of migraine attacks.

Among 215 patients referred for percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) after presumed paradoxical embolism, we assessed the prevalence of migraine. In the year prior to PFO closure, 48 (22%) patients had migraine, twice the expected prevalence of 10 to 12% in the general European population. In patients with migraine with aura, percutaneous PFO closure reduced the frequency of migraine attacks by 54% (1.2 +/- 0.8 vs 0.6 +/- 0.8 per month; p = 0.001) and in patients with migraine without aura by 62% (1.2 +/- 0.7 vs 0.4 +/- 0.4 per month; p = 0.006). PFO closure did not have an effect on headache frequency in patients with nonmigraine headaches (1.4 +/- 0.9 vs 1.0 +/- 0.9 per month; p = NS).

Adult↗

Cervical magnetic stimulation: the role of the neural foramen.

Magnetic stimulation of cervical nerve roots is a promising new technique, limited in part by uncertainty about the site of nerve depolarization. We used a modified "butterfly" stimulus coil with an easily defined excitation field to activate the C-8/T-1 nerve roots, recording over abductor digiti minimi. Locating both the lowest threshold for stimulation and the points of maximum stimulation, we determined the optimum rostral-caudal position and orientation for the stimulus coil over the posterior neck and upper trunk. The most favorable positions corresponded to the C-8/T-1 neural foramina, and the most favorable orientations to the roots within them. Additional measurements of depth and electric field suggested that the stimuli used should have been insufficient to activate nervous tissue in a homogeneous medium. A simple model indicates that the induced current is intensified where it passes through a bony foramen and explains preferential excitation of the nerve root at this site.

Electrophysiology↗

Transesophageal echocardiography and contrast-TCD in the detection of a patent foramen ovale: experiences with 111 patients.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is increasingly recognized in association with cryptogenic stroke. Using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and transcranial Doppler sonography with ultrasonic contrast medium (contrast-TCD), we evaluated the frequency of a PFO as the fundamental condition of paradoxical embolism in 111 patients after cerebral ischemia. There was a right-left shunt in 50 patients (45%) with TEE. In 31 of 40 patients with stroke of unknown etiology, a PFO was the only detectable finding associated with cerebral ischemia. Using TEE as the "gold standard," the sensitivity of contrast-TCD was 91.3%, specificity 93.8%, and the overall accuracy 92.8%. Contrast-TCD failed to detect a right-left shunt in four patients, but there were four other patients with negative TEE and positive contrast-TCD. We conclude that contrast-TCD is a highly sensitive method for detecting a right-left shunt. Its advantages are low cost, its ability to detect single contrast-medium embolism, and control of the Valsalva maneuver by observing the decrease of cerebral blood flow. Evidence of PFO in cryptogenic stroke should prompt a search for a subclinical venous thrombosis as the embolic source.

Aged↗