Atrial Fibrillation's (AF) role in the pathogenesis of thromboembolic stroke has been well established, with estimates from trials of approximately 15-20% of all strokes in the U.S. Research shows more than 90% of atrial thrombi originate from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Traditionally, oral anticoagulants (OACs) have been the keystone of management for AF in reducing the risk of thromboemb...

Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of cardiac embolic events, especially stroke. Oral anticoagulation therapy is used to reduce these events. Many patients however are unable to take such therapy. Percutaneous occlusion of the left atrial appendage (the source of 90% of these emboli) is an option in these patients. Presented here are the first 12 patients to have this procedure done in South...

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia with an incidence that is as high as 10% in the elderly population. Given the large proportion of strokes caused by AF as well as the associated morbidity and mortality, reducing stroke burden is the most important part of AF management. While warfarin significantly reduces the risk of AF-related stroke, perceived bleeding risks and compliance lim...

Rev Esp Cardiol. 2009;62(9):1068-81 1079 surgically created.1,2 The norm is, as occurred in this case, the absence of an acP potential in the ablation exit point, due to the fact that these pathways are a consequence of a direct connection between the atrial appendage and the ventricular myocardium. Ablation from the right atrial appendage usually requires its isolation with the applications of...

A 41-year-old man had chronic, recurrent, drug-resistant paroxysmal right atrial tachycardia. Electrophysiologic studies revealed features suggesting atrial reentrance, including induction and termination of tachycardia with rapid atrial pacing and atrial extrastimuli. Endocardial catheter mapping localized the origin of tachycardia to the right atrial appendage. Intraoperative epicardial mappi...

BACKGROUND The location of the sinus node is known to be at best abnormal, or at worst unknown, in patients with isomerism of the morphologically left atrial appendage. In contrast, the sinus node is known to be an excellent histological marker of the morphologically right appendage, being duplicated in those with right isomerism. The aim of the study was to investigate this condition further i...

We investigated differences in L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) between infant (INF, 1-12 mo old), young adult (YAD, 14-18 yr old), and older adult (AD) myocytes from biopsies of right atrial appendages. Basal ICa was smaller in INF myocytes (1.2 +/- 0.1 pA/pF, n = 29, 6 +/- 1 mo old, 11 patients) than in YAD (2.5 +/- 0.2 pA/pF, n = 20, 16 +/- 1 yr old, 5 patients) or AD (2.6 +/- 0.3 pA/pF, n = 19, 66...

Rev Esp Cardiol. 2009;62(9):1068-81 1079 surgically created.1,2 The norm is, as occurred in this case, the absence of an acP potential in the ablation exit point, due to the fact that these pathways are a consequence of a direct connection between the atrial appendage and the ventricular myocardium. Ablation from the right atrial appendage usually requires its isolation with the applications of...

Juxtaposition of the atrial appendages is an uncommon anomaly which is usually associated with transposition of the great arteries. Experience with five patients with transposition of the great arteries in combination with juxtaposition of the atrial appendages in whom Mustard's operation was performed is reviewed. Technically, the existence of juxtaposition of the atrial appendages in correcti...

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation originating from giant right atrial appendage aneurysm Zhi Fang1†, Ling Zeng2†, Yuhua Chen1†, and Kaijun Cui3* Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; Department of Intensive Care Unit, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; and Depa...