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Wednesday, January 20, 2010 (14:45:20) |
| Tags : Heart, Stroke, Blood Clots |
Clot-causing heart pocket may raise stroke risk |
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| Washington: A pouch-like structure inside the heart may be a potent source of stroke-causing blood clots, according to cardiologists.
The structure lies in the left atrium, which is one of the four heart chambers that receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins and pumps it into the left ventricle (chamber).
About 80 percent of the 700,000-plus strokes that occur are due to blood clots blocking a brain artery. In up to a third of these cases, the clots' origin cannot be determined.
Researchers say the discovery of this left atrial pouch could provide answers and add to neurologists' efforts to prevent stroke recurrences.
Subsequent ultrasound and Computerized Tomography (CT) scans of patients' hearts confirmed the finding. The researchers estimate that the anatomical feature, which was likened to a kangaroo pouch, is present in 30 to 35 percent of individuals. (IANS) |
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