title: Importance of left atrial appendage function as a risk factor for systemic thromboembolism in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease.
abstract: One hundred fifty-six patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease were studied with transesophageal echocardiography to assess the influence of left atrial (LA) appendage size and contractile function on the occurrence of systemic embolism. LA appendage function, represented by peak emptying velocity, was found to be a better indicator than LA spontaneous echo contrast as a risk factor for systemic thromboembolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Y Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Lien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*