embolism (cardiogenic)
Last reviewed 01/2018
One in six ischaemic strokes are attributed to cardiogenic embolism. The young and the very old, especially elderly women are most commonly affected. Usually, the embolus is a thrombotic fragment which has broken away within the heart.
Cardiac disorders are a fruitful target for prophylaxis since they may be apparent long before the stroke and many are amenable to anti-thrombotic treatment.