Left ventricular mural thrombus and the risk of embolic stroke after acute myocardial infarction.

Embolic stroke remains an important cause of morbidity after myocardial infarction, even in the thrombolytic era. Left ventricular mural thrombi and subsequent embolization can be prevented by early systemic anticoagulation of patients with large anterior myocardial infarcts. Echocardiography has been instrumental in refining our understanding of the pathophysiology of this disorder and is a useful clinical tool in the identification of patients who would benefit from continued anticoagulation.