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Updated: Feb 3, 2026
23:33
The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
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Watch out for left atrial roof thrombus
Amruta Shringarpure1, Pushkar M Desai1, Sanjeeta Umbarkar1
1Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesiology, Seth GSMC and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia
|October 19, 2018
Summary
Rheumatic mitral stenosis frequently causes left atrial (LA) thrombus, particularly with atrial fibrillation. Comprehensive screening of the entire LA, especially the left atrial appendage, during transesophageal echocardiography is crucial to detect these blood clots.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Imaging
- Thrombosis Research
Background:
- Rheumatic mitral stenosis is a significant cause of cardiac morbidity.
- Thrombus formation in the left atrium (LA) is a known complication, increasing embolic risk.
- Atrial fibrillation exacerbates the risk of thrombus development in rheumatic heart disease.
Observation:
- Thrombus in the LA associated with rheumatic mitral stenosis is common.
- The left atrial appendage is the most frequent location for LA thrombus.
- Transesophageal echocardiography is a key imaging modality for cardiac assessment.
Findings:
- Patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation have a high incidence of LA thrombus.
- The prevalence of thrombus varies depending on the location within the LA.
- The left atrial appendage demonstrates the highest likelihood of thrombus detection.
Implications:
- Thorough perioperative screening of the entire LA is essential for patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis.
- Early detection of LA thrombus can guide therapeutic strategies to prevent thromboembolic events.
- Transesophageal echocardiography plays a vital role in risk stratification and management planning.
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