Relation of thrombus in the left atrial appendage by transesophageal echocardiography to clinical risk factors for thrombus formation

M. Elizabeth Brickner, Daniel B. Friedman, Carlos G. Cigarroa, Paul A. Grayburn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transesophageal echocardiography provides excellent visualization of the left atrial appendage (LAA). This study was conducted to determine whether specific clinical risk factors could predict the presence of LAA thrombus as demonstrated by transesophageal echocardiography. The most recent 860 transesophageal echocardiographic studies performed at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The LAA was adequately visualized in 778 patients (90%). For each study, the presence or absence of 5 specific clinical risk factors (mitral stenosis, severe left ventricular dysfunction, left atrial dilatation, atrial fibrillation, or a prosthetic mitral valve) and the presence or absence of LAA thrombi were assessed. One or more clinical risk factors were present in 149 patients, whereas no defined risk factors were noted in 629. Left atrial appendage thrombi were found in 20 of 149 patients with versus 6 of 629 patients without a clinical risk factor (13% vs 1%, p = 0.0001). By logistic regression analysis, mitral stenosis, severe left ventricular dysfunction, and left atrial dilatation were independent risk factors for LAA thrombus formation. Neither atrial fibrillation nor the presence of a mitral prosthetic valve achieved statistical significance as independent risk factors for LAA thrombus. Thus, LAA thrombi occur most often in patients with risk factors for thrombus formation that can be determined by clinical evaluation and transthoracic echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography rarely identifies LAA thrombi in patients without such clinical risk factors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)391-393
Number of pages3
JournalThe American journal of cardiology
Volume74
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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