Light and electron microscopic features of surgically excised left atrial appendage in rheumatic heart disease patients with atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm.

Introduction: There are few studies comparing the pathology of the remodeled substrate in patients of rheumatic heart disease with atrial fibrillation (AF) and normal sinus rhythm (NSR).

Methods: The study group comprised 30 patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing mitral valve replacement. Excised left atrial appendages of these patients [17 with persistent AF and 13 NSR (control group)] were subjected to light and electron microscopic examination.