Smilowitz NR, et al. - In a large nationwide cohort of patients hospitalized in the United States, researchers explored the connection between atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO) and in-hospital perioperative ischemic stroke after non-cardiac surgery. Using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample, patients undergoing noncardiac surgery between 2004 and 2014 were recognized. There were 639,985 admissions for non-cardiac surgery with an in-hospital echocardiogram between 2004 and 2014. An ASD or PFO diagnosis correlated with a greater danger of acute ischemic stroke overall and in all surgical subtypes in a large, nationwide analysis of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. In patients with an ASD or PFO vs those without an ASD or PFO, perioperative ischemic stroke was more frequently seen (35.1% vs 6.0%). In patients with septal defects scheduled for non-cardiac surgery, additional measures are needed to lessen the danger of stroke.