Abstract

RENDON, Jairo A.  and  DUARTE, Néstor R.. Assessment of left atrial appendage function by speckle tracking. Rev. Colomb. Cardiol. [online]. 2014, vol.21, n.3, pp.154-159. ISSN 0120-5633.

Objective: To characterize the function of the left atrial appendage by two-dimensional speckle tracking in patients in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation. Methods: Transesophageal echocardiography was performed to assess the longitudinal deformation, the rate of longitudinal deformation, tissue velocities, volume, and ejection fraction of the left atrial appendage through two-dimensional speckle tracking in patients in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation. Results: 91 patients were included and it was possible to analyze 80 (88%). 25% had atrial fibrillation and of these 9% had thrombus in the left atrial appendage; 46% were men with a mean age of 60 years (18-93). Significant differences were found between patients with atrial fibrillation vs. sinus rhythm in the left atrial appendage ejection fraction (26.7% vs. 50.1%), the Doppler emptying velocities (28.5 vs. 55.6 cm/s), tissue velocities (3.6 vs. 9.9 cm/s), the longitudinal deformation (5.7% vs.17%), the longitudinal deformation rate (0.9 vs. 3.1) and minimum volumes of the left atrial appendage (6.3 vs. 3.0 mL). No significant differences were found between patients with atrial fibrillation with or without thrombus. Conclusion: The assessment of left atrial appendage function by speckle tracking is a useful tool to characterize the function of this structure. Its alteration could be related to the risk of the development of thrombus and secondary embolic events.

Keywords : Atrial fibrilation; Echocardiography; Cerebral ischemia.

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