title: Right and left atrial appendage function in patients with atrial septal aneurysm without patent foramen ovale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is a risk factor for arterial embolism. Despite prior reports concerning paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale, atrial dysfunction and atrial arrhythmias might represent an additional mechanism for arterial embolism.The aim of this study was to evaluate right and left atrial appendage contractilty in patients with ASA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 30 patients with ASA (10 males/20 females, mean age 50.2 +/- 15.3 years) and 30 controls (12 males/ 18 females, mean age 47.7 +/- 10 years) were included. Conventional transthoracic and multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography were performed in patient and control groups. Flow and myocardial velocity were measured in both atrial appendages. Baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable. Flow velocity and myocardial contraction velocity in both atrial appendages were significantly lower in ASA patients. Compared to the control group, patients with ASA had a larger length, base and area of both appendages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In ASA patients right and left atrial appendage function are impaired. Biatrial dysfunction may cause arrhythmia and thromboembolism.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cardiology, Bursa Yüksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. drmehmetmd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keçoğlu
authors.forename: Tufan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Günay
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006346:Heart Septum; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology