title: Thromboembolus from a ligated left atrial appendage.
abstract: The left atrial appendage of patients with mitral valve disease is commonly a source of thromboembolus and is often ligated during mitral valve surgery to diminish this risk. However, ligation is often incomplete. We describe a patient with a stroke whose only source of embolus was an incompletely ligated left atrial appendage. Attempts to exclude the left atrial appendage from the arterial circulation by suture ligation may not decrease the risk of thromboemboli and instead may increase such risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kort
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schloss
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kronzon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020517:Atrial Appendage; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*