Protruding aortic atheromas predict stroke in elderly patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass: Experience with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography

Protruding atheromas of the aortic arch identified by transesophageal echocardiography have been implicated as a cause of stroke in elderly patients. One hundred thirty patients ≥65 years of age were studied with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography to detect aortic arch protruding atheromas and determine if these patients were at higher risk for perioperative stroke. Protruding atheromas were identified in 23 (18%) of 130 patients....