Accepted for publication 29 April 1991 Abstract Objective-To determine the value of transoesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of selected patients at risk of cardiogenic embolism or after it. Design-Prospective comparison of the results of transoesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography. Transoesophageal echocardiography was performed with a 5 MHz single plane phased array transdu...

BACKGROUND Left atrial thrombus is common in patients with mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation; but how frequent it is in our population? The objective of study was to see the frequency of left atrial and appendage clot on trans-oesophageal echocardiography in symptomatic patients with severe mitral stenosis planned for PTMC. METHODS Trans-oesophageal echocardiographic data retrieved from...

AIM This study was conducted to evaluate whether left atrial strain and strain rate correlate well with transesophageal parameters of stunning after atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-two consecutive patients with chronic atrial fibrillation >/=3 months and <1 year were enrolled in the study. Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography with color Doppler myocar...

OBJECTIVE Atrial fibrillation puts patients at significant risk for embolic stroke originating from the left atrial appendage. Few means are available for safe, effective, and durable left atrial appendage occlusion. A new clip device was evaluated with regard to safety and effectiveness for epicardial left atrial appendage occlusion. METHODS Patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing elect...

A patient was admitted for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Cardiac computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography revealed the absence of the left atrial appendage. However, the right atrial appendage looked normal and the level of pro B-natriuretic peptide was within normal limits. Successful catheter ablation was performed without any procedural complications and the sinus...

An isolated aneurysmal dilatation of the left atrial appendage was found in an 18 year old girl who presented with atrial fibrillation and an unusual cardiac shadow on routine chest radiographs. The diagnosis was made by cross sectional echocardiography. The giant appendage was excised to remove the risk of systemic embolism and the need for life long anticoagulation.

BACKGROUND Mean platelet volume has been associated with stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, its role as a predictor of left atrial stasis, assessed by transesophageal echocardiography, in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation has not yet been clarified. METHODS Single center cross-sectional study comprising 427 patients admitted to the emergency department due to s...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is associated with embolic strokes that often result in death or disability. Effective in reducing these events, anticoagulation has several limitations and has been widely underutilized. Over 90% of thrombi identified in patients with atrial fibrillation without valvular disease originate in the left atrial appendage, whose occlusion is investigated as an alterna...

INTRODUCTION Stroke accounts for approx. 90% of thromboembolic complications associated with atrial fibrillation. The use of oral anticoagulants is the most effective therapy but is associated with risk of haemorrhagic complications. AIM In this article, we describe a series of patients with atrial fibrillation, cardiogenic stroke history, and contraindications for long-term anticoagulant the...

BACKGROUND Intracranial hemorrhage is the most serious complication of anticoagulant therapy and is itself an absolute contraindication to further treatment. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 78-year-old patient with permanent atrial fibrillation and previous intracranial hemorrhage during oral anticoagulation therapy, who was a candidate for percutaneous closure of the left atrial appenda...