Yield of Echocardiography with Bubble Studies Among Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiographic studies with agitated saline, also known as "bubble studies" (BSs), are used to diagnose patent foramen ovales (PFOs) in cryptogenic strokes (CSs). Guidelines limit PFO closure recommendations to CS patients ≤ 60 but BSs are often performed as part of standard order sets, leading to inappropriate studies in older patients with already-established stroke etiologies. This retrospective single-center study included acute ischemic stroke patients between January 2021 and June 2022 and assessed the stroke etiology and number of the echocardiographic studies performed.