title: Effect of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty on left atrial appendage function: transesophageal echo study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To compare left atrial appendage (LAA) function by Doppler and Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) before and after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine patients with symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis who underwent PBMV were included in this study. LAA function was measured before and after PBMV. To study LAA function, LAA late emptying (LAALE) velocity, LAA late filling (LAALF) velocity, and LAA area change percentage (LAAAC %) were measured. In the DTI study, tissue Doppler velocities of the LAA, including peak early diastolic (E(LAA)), peak late diastolic (A(LAA)), and peak systolic (S(LAA)), were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant increase in LAALE velocity, LAALF velocity, E(LAA), A(LAA), S(LAA) waves measured by Doppler and DTI after PBMV compared with baseline (p < 0.001) but there was no significant change in LAAAC% (p = not significant). Spontaneous echo contrast was present in 10 of the 59 patients before the procedure. It completely disappeared (6 patients) or decreased (4 patients) after PBMV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that PBMV improves LAA function and, thereby, may have a favorable influence on future thromboembolic complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, India. drganireddy@gmail.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ganeswara Reddy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rajasekhar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vanajakshamma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D063126:Balloon Valvuloplasty; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult