Importance of contrast transthoracic echocardiography for evaluating
large right-to-left shunt in patent foramen ovale associated with
cryptogenic stroke
Abstract
Background: Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is an
effective therapy for preventing cryptogenic stroke (CS). The
identification of high-risk PFO, which is more likely to be linked to
CS, is essential. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of contrast
transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for evaluating large right-to-left
(RL) shunt. Methods: We enrolled 119 patients with or without CS who
were confirmed to have PFO. The severity of RL shunt evaluated by
contrast TTE and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was classified
as follows: small (<10 microbubbles), moderate (10–20
microbubbles), and large (>20 microbubbles). Results: With
contrast TTE, large RL shunt was observed in 94 (79%) of 119 patients,
including 66 of 74 with CS and 28 of 45 without CS. With contrast TEE,
large RL shunt was observed in 33 (28%) patients, including 26 with CS
and 7 without CS. Contrast TTE showed large RL shunt more frequently
than contrast TEE (P < .01). Large RL shunt evaluated by
contrast TTE had a sensitivity of 89% and an accuracy of 70% for the
association with CS, whereas large RL shunt evaluated by contrast TEE
had a sensitivity of 35% and an accuracy of 56%. Accuracy was
significantly greater in contrast TTE than in contrast TEE (P = .02).
Conclusion: Contrast TTE identified large RL shunt more frequently.
Large RL shunt evaluated by contrast TTE provided greater accuracy for
the association with CS. Our findings suggest that contrast TTE is
valuable for evaluating large RL shunt as high-risk PFO.