Changes of left atrial function before and after direct current cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation by echocardiography / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of external direct current shock on left atrial(LA) diamension and volumes after cardioversion for atrial fibrillation(AF) and the relation between LA size and function.Methods The initial study population included 68 patients with AF.According to cardioversion patterns, the patients were divided randomly into cardioversion with direct-current shock(36 patients) and cardioversion with drugs(32 patients). Echocardiographic evaluations included LA size and volume,LA passive and active emptying volumes were calculated,and LA function was measured as LA ejection force (LAEF).The correlation between LA diameters and volumes and LA systolic function was analyzed. Results LA was dilated in all the patients during AF and the superior-infra dimensions of LA decreased after restoration of sinus rhythm in the patients reverted with external direct current shock and the patients reverted with durgs (P