Transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography for the detection of left atrial appendage thrombus.
Thrombi located in the left atrial appendage are frequently not detected with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography. The transesophageal echocardiographic approach readily visualizes left atrial morphology and may be used as an alternative. In 6 of 21 patients with mitral valve stenosis, a left atrial appendage thrombus was diagnosed by transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography when transthoracic echocardiography had failed. The transesophageal echocardiographic findings were confirmed at surgery for mitral valve replacement in all cases.
D000328:Adult; 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; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology