BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is no information about the optimal position of a patient for the performance of a transcranial Doppler (TCD) examination to detect patent foramen ovale (PFO). Such information is important to improving the sensitivity of the test in comparison to the gold standard of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). METHODS: Thirty-four patients with TEE-proved PFO were examined by contrast TCD. Examinations were done in both the sitting and supine positions in random order. RESULTS:Eight hundred ninety-two microemboli were recorded. Patients' positions and the sequence of testing did not affect the number of microemboli detected. Yet for each individual, 1 of the 2 positions was more sensitive. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the sensitivity of TCD in the detection of PFO, it is recommended, in the case of a first negative test, to change the patient's position for a repeated TCD examination.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is no information about the optimal position of a patient for the performance of a transcranial Doppler (TCD) examination to detect patent foramen ovale (PFO). Such information is important to improving the sensitivity of the test in comparison to the gold standard of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). METHODS: Thirty-four patients with TEE-proved PFO were examined by contrast TCD. Examinations were done in both the sitting and supine positions in random order. RESULTS: Eight hundred ninety-two microemboli were recorded. Patients' positions and the sequence of testing did not affect the number of microemboli detected. Yet for each individual, 1 of the 2 positions was more sensitive. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the sensitivity of TCD in the detection of PFO, it is recommended, in the case of a first negative test, to change the patient's position for a repeated TCD examination.