Transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiographic study of left atrial appendage flow in patients with atrial fibrillation

Objective To determine the left atrial appendage(LAA) hemodynamics in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods Seventy four patients with AF were examined by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) which was classified as three subgroups: group A, nonrheumatic heart disease group;group B, rheumatic mitral stenosis(MS) group with valve area 1.00 cm 2; group C, rheumatic MS group with valve area 1.00 cm 2.Results LAA volume was significantly larger,the forward and backward flow velocity of LAA was significantly lower in patients with AF than in patients with sinus rhythm.The above changes were more significant in group B and C than in group A.The morbidity of spontaneous SEC and clot was significantly higher in patients with AF than that in patients with sinus rhythm.Type III flow pattern of LAA was strongly correlated with the presence of SEC and thrombus.Conclusions LAA flow velocity patterns provide an important information of LAA hemodynamics in patient with AF,espescialy in early period of AF.