Aetiology
Common causes of cardiac emboli include:
- atrial fibrillation
- left ventricular thrombus after myocardial infarction
- rheumatic heart disease
- prosthetic cardiac valves
- following cardiac surgery for example, coronary artery bypass graft, or cardiac catheterisation
Less common causes include:
- endocarditis - infective, marantic, Libman-Sachs
- mitral valve prolapse
- cardiac tumours - primary e.g. atrial myxoma; metastatic
- non-ischaemic dilated / congestive cardiomyopathy
- aneurysm
References
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Stroke and transient ischaemic attack in over 16s: diagnosis and initial management. NG 128. April 2022 [internet publication].
- Royal College of Physicians; Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network; Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. National clinical guideline for stroke for the United Kingdom and Ireland. April 2023 [internet publication].
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