Stroke secondary to cardiogenic embolism

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Central nervous system

Stroke

Stroke secondary to atrial fibrillation; Cardioembolic stroke

Symptoms of stroke occur suddenly and include:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• Tingling or other abnormal sensations
• Confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech
• Problems seeing out of one or both eyes
• Dizziness
• Loss of coordination and balance, which can cause trouble walking
• Severe headache

Other symptoms may include:

• Vertigo (abnormal sensation of movement)
• Swallowing difficulties
• Personality changes
• Mood and emotion changes
• Urinary incontinence (lack of control over bladder)
• Lack of control over the bowels
• Sleepiness,stuporous, lethary
• Loss of consciousness
• Coma

A physical exam may reveal the following:

• Changes in vision or visual fields
• Clots in the retina of the eye
• Changes in reflexes including abnormal reflexes or abnormal extent of "normal" reflexes
• Abnormal eye movements
• Muscle weakness
• Decreased sensation

The pulse may be irregular. Abnormal sounds may be heard when listening to the heart with a stethoscope. There may be signs of splinter hemorrhages.

Tests include:

• Head CT scan
• MRI of head , MRA of the head
• ECG showing arrhythmia , such as atrial fibrillation
• Echocardiogram
• Transcranial Doppler (ultrasound of the head)

Review Date: 02/20/2007
Reviewed By: Updated by: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (August 2006)