Atrial Septal Defect and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke in the Perioperative Period of Noncardiac Surgery

Stroke is a serious complication of noncardiac surgery. Congenital defects of the interatrial septum may be a potent risk factor for perioperative stroke. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO) and in-hospital perioperative ischemic stroke after non-cardiac surgery in a large nationwide cohort of patients hospitalized in the United States. Patients undergoing...