ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Objectives: To determine the electrocardiographic and echocardiographicfindings in patients with acute ischemic stroke (potential source of cardiac emboli). StudyDesign: Cross section descriptive study. Period: Six months. Setting: Liaquat University HospitalHyderabad. Patients and Methods: The subjects with history and clinical features suggestiveof cerebrovascular accident (CVA). After establishing the diagnosis of acute ischemic strokethe electrocardiography (ECG) was advised and those subjects had abnormal findings onECG were went for echocardiography to evaluate the specific cause related to acute ischemicstroke. The two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography was performed by consultantcardiologist had ≥ five years experienced in echocardiography because echocardiographicstudy in patients with cerebrovascular accident (confirmed on CT scan) is evidence of potentialcardiac abnormalities as a predisposing cause for the vascular event. The data was collectedon pre-designed proforma and was analyzed in SPSS 16 and the frequency and percentagewas calculated. Results: Total one hundred patients with acute ischemic stroke were studiedfor electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings during six months study period. Themean ±SD for age of patients with acute ischemic stroke was 43.67±10.62. Majority of thepatients were males and 69% while the age and gender cross tabulation was also statisticallysignificant (p=0.03). The electrocardiographic abnormalities were indentified in 80% patients(AF in 16.2%, LVH in 22.5%, LBBB in 10%, wide QRS complex in 10% and ischemic changesin 8.7%) while the echocardiographic abnormalities were detected in 70% patients of whichglobal hypokinesia (28.5%), LVH (25.7%) and diastolic dysfunction (17.14)% were predominant.Conclusion: The cardiac embolic source is the major cause for acute ischemic stroke anddetected by echocardiography as it is the main tool in diagnosing the source of embolus.