The Comparative Effectiveness Study of Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography in Stroke (CONTEST) aims at assessing the diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with regards to treatment consequences in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
For this purpose, the investigators will perform a prospective multicenter diagnostic comparative effectiveness study. Patients with acute stroke will be studied by both TTE and TEE. Patients with already defined stroke etiology and determined secondary prevention will be excluded from the trial. Treatment relevant diagnostic findings will be identified by a central endpoint adjudication committee. In order to demonstrate a hypothesized 2% absolute increase in the number of treatment relevant diagnostic findings by TEE as compared to TTE, 880 stroke patients will be enrolled in six German stroke centers. CONTEST will allow answering the question whether and for which group of stroke patients TEE is indicated in addition to TTE. By this, the study will provide evidence to guide justified recommendations for echocardiography in acute stroke patients.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
494
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Hamburg, Germany
Albertinen-Krankenhaus
Hamburg, Germany
Regio Klinikum Pinneberg
Pinneberg, Germany
Kreiskliniken Reutlingen
Reutlingen, Germany
Number of Participants With Diagnostic Findings That Lead to a Change in Acute Treatment or Treatment for Secondary Prevention
Treatment relevant diagnostic findings identified by a central endpoint adjudication committee comprising both cardiologists and neurologists.
Time frame: Inpatient treatment on a stroke unit usually <7 days
Number of Patients With Change of Assessment of Stroke Etiology After TEE
Number of patients with change in the assessment of stroke etiology (cardioembolism, large artery atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, other determined etiology, unknown etiology) after performing TEE
Time frame: Inpatient treatment on a stroke unit usually <7 days
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