Cardioembolic Stroke â A Clinical Approach â MM1609
Stroke is a major cause of death, most commonly by infarct (in approximately 85% of cases). Cardioembolism accounts for 15-40% of all ischemic strokes and importantly, three year mortality from a cardioembolic stroke may be as high as 50%. The initial mortality may be related to the stroke but after six months the cause of death is often related to underlying cardiovascular disease. Identifying cardiembolic stroke is important and should be followed by a systematic workup to identify the source of cardioembolism, as it can prevent further events by treating the underlying cardiac abnormality.
Modern Medicine â September 2016
