Abstract
To assess stasis in the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation and to identify patients at increased risk for thromboembolism, we performed transesophageal echocardiography with an intravenous albumin contrast agent (Albunex) in 25 patients with atrial fibrillation and in 22 patients in sinus rhythm. We demonstrated that the absence of opacification in the left atrial appendage after Albunex administration implies a high risk of left atrial thrombus and cardiogenic thromboembolism.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Albumins* / administration & dosage
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Atrial Fibrillation / diagnostic imaging*
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Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology
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Atrial Function, Left*
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Chronic Disease
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Contrast Media* / administration & dosage
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Echocardiography / statistics & numerical data
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Echocardiography, Transesophageal / methods*
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Echocardiography, Transesophageal / statistics & numerical data
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Observer Variation
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Reproducibility of Results
Substances
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Albumins
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Albunex
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Contrast Media