Hickam's Dictum Revisited: A Multifactorial Etiology of Stroke in a Patient With Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis and Atrial Septal Aneurysm

A 64-year-old gentleman with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), coronary artery disease, and active tobacco abuse was admitted with a left posterior cerebral artery (PCA) territory ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA). He presented with confusion, headaches, and alexia with stable vital signs. He denied rest or exertional dyspnea. Physical exam revealed right homonymous hemianopia, mild right upper extremity dysmetria, decreased right facial sensation, and mild prosopagnosia. Initial neuroimaging confirmed an evolving left hemispheric infarct. Laboratory testing showed unremarkable inflammatory markers. Computed tomographic (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the head and neck confirmed left PCA territory acute or subacute infarction with occlusion of the left P2 segment. 12-lead electrocardiogram demonstrated normal sinus rhythm. Occult atrial fibrillation was not seen. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed no evidence of right-to-left interatrial shunt. Moderate left atrial (LA) dilati...