Left atrial appendage function in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation

ABSTRACT

In this study, 36 patients with non-rheumatic AF and 10 healthy subjects were investigated. The patients were subjected to thorough history taking, thorough clinical examination, plain X-ray chest to assess the cardiothoracic ratio and pulmonary vasculature, 12-lead surface ECG to define the patient's rhythm, rate and type of AF [course or fine], transthoracic echocardiographic examination and transesophageal echocardiography. The flow pattern of all patients and normal subjects was assessed by transesophageal pulsed wave and color Doppler and two distinct flow patterns were recorded [low flow pattern in 18 patients and high flow pattern in 18 patients]. This study confirmed that LAA is a highly contractile dynamic pump with a pattern of contraction that is quite distinct from that of the main body of the LA. LAA thrombus formation is associated with LAA dilatation, decreased LAA EF percentage and slow forward and backward velocity