Acute Cardioembolic Stroke in the Setting of Subtherapeutic Anticoagulation

Acute ischemic stroke is a sudden neurological deficit secondary to decreased or lack of blood flow (perfusion) due to a thrombus or an embolus. Embolic strokes are ischemic strokes that occur due to a distal clot that results in hypoperfusion upstream. Cardioembolic strokes are embolic strokes due to a cardiac origin. Almost a quarter of ischemic strokes are of cardioembolic etiology. Here, we present the case of an 83-year-old female presenting with right-side weakness and aphasia who arrived 45 minutes after symptom onset. Cardioembolic stroke symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and risk factors are discussed.