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Left atrial appendage anatomy and function: short term response to sustained atrial fibrillation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Weigner, MJ; Katz, SE; Douglas, PS; Manning, WJ
Published in: Heart
November 1999

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is significant atrial or atrial appendage enlargement or functional remodelling as a result of one to two months of sustained atrial fibrillation, a duration similar to that experienced by patients undergoing warfarin anticoagulation before elective cardioversion. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that left atrial and left atrial appendage enlargement develop as a result of short term atrial fibrillation, serial anatomical and functional indices were measured using transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in 20 patients with recent onset atrial fibrillation (14 men, six women; mean (SEM) age 67 (2) years). Serial TOE was performed 2.5 months apart in patients with sustained atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: There was no significant change in left atrial area (23.7 cm(2) to 24.1 cm(2), p = 0.98); length (5.7 cm to 5.7 cm, p = 0.48); width (5.2 cm to 5.2 cm, p = 0. 65); volume (83 cm(3) to 87 cm(3), p = 0.51) or left atrial appendage area (7.9 cm(2) to 8.1 cm(2), p = 0.89); length (4.6 cm to 4.5 cm, p = 0.8); or width (2.5 to 2.4 cm, p = 0.87). Peak left atrial appendage velocity ejection (0.2 m/s to 0.2 m/s, p = 0.57), and presence of severe spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrial appendage (n = 15 (75%) to n = 13 (72%)) were also not significantly different. There was no correlation between changes in left atrial or left atrial appendage dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of sustained atrial fibrillation, significant left atrial and left atrial appendage functional and anatomical remodelling do not occur with atrial fibrillation of a duration similar to that used for conservative anticoagulation in preparation for cardioversion.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Heart

DOI

EISSN

1468-201X

Publication Date

November 1999

Volume

82

Issue

5

Start / End Page

555 / 558

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Prospective Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Echocardiography
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
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Weigner, M. J., Katz, S. E., Douglas, P. S., & Manning, W. J. (1999). Left atrial appendage anatomy and function: short term response to sustained atrial fibrillation. Heart, 82(5), 555–558. https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.82.5.555
Weigner, M. J., S. E. Katz, P. S. Douglas, and W. J. Manning. “Left atrial appendage anatomy and function: short term response to sustained atrial fibrillation.Heart 82, no. 5 (November 1999): 555–58. https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.82.5.555.
Weigner MJ, Katz SE, Douglas PS, Manning WJ. Left atrial appendage anatomy and function: short term response to sustained atrial fibrillation. Heart. 1999 Nov;82(5):555–8.
Weigner, M. J., et al. “Left atrial appendage anatomy and function: short term response to sustained atrial fibrillation.Heart, vol. 82, no. 5, Nov. 1999, pp. 555–58. Pubmed, doi:10.1136/hrt.82.5.555.
Weigner MJ, Katz SE, Douglas PS, Manning WJ. Left atrial appendage anatomy and function: short term response to sustained atrial fibrillation. Heart. 1999 Nov;82(5):555–558.

Published In

Heart

DOI

EISSN

1468-201X

Publication Date

November 1999

Volume

82

Issue

5

Start / End Page

555 / 558

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Prospective Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Echocardiography
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology