[Diagnosis of thrombosis of the left atrium in rheumatic heart defects, using the main components methods]

A new method of diagnosis of left atrial thrombosis was developed for rheumatic heart disease patients. The mathematic method of the main components was used that permits to detect the thrombosis of the left atrium in 94.3% of the cases. Fourteen most frequently encountered symptoms of this complication were singled out, the probability of the occurrence of these symptoms was calculated for the patients with rheumatic heart diseases and atrial fibrillation with and without thrombosis. A computer was employed to develop the method, while no computer is needed for the diagnosis itself. Symptoms from the list must be identified in the given patient, the digital values of the main components found in the table be summed up with that of the free member, with due regard of the sign, and the presence of the thrombus be determined on the basis of the presented chart.