[Recovery of mechanical atrial function following atrial fibrillation].
To evaluated the recovery of atrial function following atrial fibrillation, we followed 66 patients with atrial fibrillation cardioverted to sinus rhythm. Over 3 months of follow-up we performed transmitral pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The results were evaluated according to the etiology, duration of atrial fibrillation, left atrial dimension and modality of cardioversion. We observed a significant increase in both peak A wave velocity and percent atrial contribution to total left ventricular filling after 1 month in hypertensive patients and after 3 months in ischemic patients. The recovery of atrial mechanical function was earlier in patients with recent atrial fibrillation (< 24 hours) and in patients with normal left atrium. These results may have implications in guiding the duration of anticoagulant therapy after cardioversion.
Mattioli
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AV
Cattedra di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi, Modena.
Tarabini Castellani
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E
Vivoli
D
D
Molinari
R
R
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016275:Atrial Function; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
Il ripristino della funzione meccanica atriale dopo fibrillazione atriale.