Left atrial thrombus in a case of severe aortic stenosis with severe left ventricular dysfunction: An Incidental

Aanchal Dixit1, Prabhat Tewari1, Bipin Chandra2

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Insights

Left atrial thrombus is rare in aortic valve disease but can occur with a dilated left ventricle. Transesophageal echocardiography is crucial for diagnosis in these complex cardiac cases.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Left atrial thrombus formation is typically linked to mitral stenosis.
  • Aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation are less common causes of left atrial thrombus.

Observation:

  • A case of left atrial thrombus in a patient with severe aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation in sinus rhythm was observed.
  • The patient presented with a dilated left ventricle, a significant additional risk factor.

Findings:

  • The presence of left atrial thrombus was confirmed in a patient with combined aortic valve disease.
  • Dilated left ventricle was identified as a key factor contributing to thrombus formation in this context.

Implications:

  • Highlights the need to consider left atrial thrombus in aortic valve disease, especially with left ventricular dilation.
  • Underscores the critical role of comprehensive perioperative transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosing and managing such cases.

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