title: Thrombus in the left atrial appendage detected by intracardiac echocardiography.
abstract: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) at the ostium of the pulmonary veins can potentially cure atrial fibrillation. Left-sided ablation procedures may carry a risk of thrombo-embolic events. Emboli from intracardiac thrombus originate from the left atrial appendage (LAA) in a substantial number of patients. The presence of spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium (LA) and LAA peak emptying flow < or = 20 cm/s are also significantly related to thrombo-embolic events. Evaluation of the anatomy of the LA and LAA prior to left-sided procedures is therefore mandatory. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) appears an ideal technique to obtain this information during the RFCA-procedure. In the current report, we report on the use of ICE detecting a thrombus in the LAA in a patient planned to undergo RFCA of pulmonary veins for atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M R M
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jongbloed
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bax
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: van der Wall
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schalij
mesh_terms: D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery