We report a case of simultaneous right and left atrial appendage thrombi in a 76-year-old-man with atrial fibrillation. Although transesophageal echocardiography is considered a routine diagnostic procedure, complete and comprehensive visualization of both atrial appendages is of paramount importance, particularly with the introduction of new therapeutic options like left atrial appendage exclusion devices. We expect to raise awareness among clinicians of the prevalence and implications of bilateral atrial appendage thrombi in common clinical practice.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/echo.13044 | DOI Listing |
Cureus
December 2024
Cardiology, Avicenna Military Hospital, Marrakesh, MAR.
Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, poses challenges in predicting thromboembolic risk. While the CHADS-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years (doubled), type 2 diabetes mellitus, previous stroke, transient ischemic attack, or thromboembolism (doubled), vascular disease, age 65-74 years, and sex category) score remains essential, its limitations include failure to identify left atrial (LA) thrombus in some patients. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides superior detection of LA thrombi and thrombogenic factors compared to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), improving risk stratification, especially in intermediate-risk groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Cardiol Heart Vasc
February 2025
Department of Cardiology. University Hospital Alvaro Cunqueiro, Vigo, Spain. Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur). SERGAS-UVIGO.
Introduction And Objectives: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a viable option to mitigate bleeding and stroke risks in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are not eligible for oral anticoagulation. Its safety and efficacy in cancer patients remain unclear due to their exclusion from trials. This study aimed to compare short- and long-term LAAO outcomes between cancer and non-cancer patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Cardiol Heart Vasc
February 2025
Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Background: Cardioversion, a rhythm control treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), requires ruling out cardiac embolic sources, often originating from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is used for LAA evaluation, but it is invasive and not widely available. This study aimed to identify cardiovascular risk factors linked to LAA abnormalities and predictors of thromboembolic events and all-cause mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomech Model Mechanobiol
January 2025
Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale (LIB), Institut National de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by rapid and irregular contraction of the left atrium (LA). Impacting LA haemodynamics, this increases the risk of thrombi development and stroke. Flow conditions preceding stroke in these patients are not well defined, partly due the limited resolution of 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Cardiovascular Research Institute, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, Liaoning, China.
Using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to investigate the occurrence and related causes of iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) after catheter ablation combined with left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) for atrial fibrillation (AF) and its impact on the right heart system. We retrospectively analyzed 330 patients that underwent combined procedure of catheter ablation for AF and LAAC at General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from January 2018 to March 2022. These patients were divided into iASD group and non-iASD group according to whether there was persistent iASD shown on TEE at 3 months after procedure.
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