[Detection of patent foramen ovale by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography]

This study compares the value of transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for detecting a patent foramen ovale (PFO). A total of 61 stroke patients under 65 years of age, were studied. A PFO was detected by TEE in 27 of 61 patients and these results were used as the gold standard. TCD confirmed the presence of PFO in 23 of the 27 patients and detected a PFO in a further 5 patients with normal TEE results. TCD had a sensitivity of 85% (23 of 27) and accuracy of 85% (52 of 61). The prevalence of PFO detected by both methods was 38%.