aetiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
Sources of cerebral emboli include:
- cardiac - especially due to atrial fibrillation
- carotid, vertebral or basilar arteries - usually due to atherosclerosis complicated by stenosis and ulceration; rarely, due to a dissecting aneurysm
- paradoxical emboli - especially, from deep vein thrombosis
- traumatic - fat or air emboli
- iatrogenic - following cardiac surgery, cardiac catheterisation or cerebral angiography