[Thrombi in the left atrial appendage in mitral defects despite adequate anticoagulation. The advantages of transesophageal echocardiography].
Thrombi in the left atrium are a frequent complication of mitral valve disease accompanied by left atrial enlargement. It is often difficult to recognize abnormal structures in this area with sufficient reliability by conventional transthoracic cross-sectional (2-D) echocardiography. Diagnosis is almost impossible with thrombi in the left atrial appendage. Transesophageal echocardiography presents a useful alternative. By this means thrombi in the left atrial appendage were diagnosed in seven of 24 patients with mitral stenosis on adequate anticoagulation, transthoracic 2-D echocardiography having given negative results. At subsequent valve replacement the results of transthoracic echocardiography were confirmed in all cases.
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
D000925:Anticoagulants
Thromben im linken Herzohr bei Mitralvitien trotz adäquater Antikoagulation. Vorteile der transösophagealen Echokardiographie.