title: Use of an echocardiographic contrast agent to establish safety of cardioversion in a patient with a ligated left atrial appendage.
abstract: Transesophageal echocardiographic-guided cardioversion is a safe, accepted technique to minimize risk of stroke and embolic events when electrically converting atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm. The presence of thrombus in the left atrial appendage (LAA) is a contraindication to performing cardioversion in these patients. For patients with a surgically ligated LAA, thrombus may be more prevalent and may still represent an embolic risk because of incomplete closure of the LAA. We report use of an echocardiographic contrast agent in a patient with a thrombus in a ligated LAA to determine safety of cardioversion.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, North Kansas City Hospital, MO 64116, USA.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Farrar
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gough
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; C099458:FS 069; D005466:Fluorocarbons