The pivotal role of echocardiography in cardiac sources of embolism

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and is the third commonest cause of death in Europe. Clinical history examination and basic investigations including an electrocardiogram may shed light on the potential cardiac cause. Echocardiography plays a pivotal role in the assessment of embolic stroke. The hierarchy of echocardiography investigations begins with a standard transthoracic echocardiography study and may be proceeded by a bubble contrast transthoracic and a transoesophageal echo study. This article discusses the crucial role echocardiography has assumed in the assessment of stroke patients and describes the cardiac sources responsible.