title: Left atrial appendage morphology and risk of stroke following pulmonary vein isolation for drug-refractory atrial fibrillation in low CHA2DS2Vasc risk patients.
abstract: Cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) has become an important adjunct in the structural assessment of the pulmonary veins (PV) prior to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Published data is conflicting regarding a relationship between left atrial appendage (LAA) and the risk of ischemic stroke (CVA) following PVI. We investigated the associations of volumetric and morphologic left atrial (LA) and LAA measurements for CVA following PVI.
  
  
  
  We retrospectively reviewed 332 consecutive patients with drug refractory atrial fibrillation who obtained cardiac CT angiogram (CCTA) prior to PVI. Baseline demographic data, procedural and lab details, and outcomes were obtained from abstraction of an electronic medical records system. LA, LAA, and PV volumes were measured using CCTA datasets utilizing a semi-automated 3D workstation application. LAA morphology was assigned utilizing volume rendered images as previously described.
  
  
  
  The study cohort was 55 ± 13 years-old, 83.7% male, low CVA risk (median CHA2DS2Vasc 1; IQR 1, 3), and 30.4% were treated with novel oral anticoagulants. Chicken wing (CW) was the most common morphology (52%), followed by windsock (WS), cauliflower (CF), and cactus (CS) at 18, 9, and 2%, respectively. CVAs occurred in 4 patients following PVI with median time to CVA of 170.5 days. All CVAs were observed in CW morphology patients. When comparing CW morphology with non-CW morphology, CVAs occurred more frequently with the CW morphology (2.1% vs 0%, p = 0.03). This difference was not significant, though, after adjusting for CHA2DS2Vasc risk factors (p = 0.14).
  
  
  
  The CW morphology was observed more commonly in patients who experienced post-PVI CVA. After adjusting for CHA2DS2Vasc risk factors, CW morphology was not an independent predictor of post-PVI CVA. These findings should be interpreted in the setting of a low CVA event rate amongst a low risk population that was highly compliant with indicated anticoagulation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78234-6200, USA.
authors.forename: Faith R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Takor B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Arrey-Mbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Michael U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78234-6200, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78234-6200, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmad M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Slim
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78234-6200, USA. dustin.m.thomas4.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Dustin M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; CCT; CHA2DS2Vasc; CVA; Cardiac CT Angiography; Left atrial appendage; PVI; Pulmonary vein isolation; Stroke