Abstract
Embolism from the heart and the thoracic aorta often lead to significant mortality and morbidity. It is estimated that one third of all ischemic strokes are related to heart embolism.
A typical reason for thrombus formation is the dilatation of a heart chamber, either atrial due to atrial fibrillation or flutter, or ventricular due to ischemic or non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Other sources are infective and non-infective endocarditis, cardiac tumors (myxoma is dominant) and ulcerated aortic atherosclerotic plaques.
Echocardiography is the first line method in the diagnosis and management. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography as well as computed tomography and magnetic resonance are complementary methods.
The article reviews the current use of echocardiography in clinical practice.