Left atrial appendage morphology with the progression of atrial fibrillation

Yoichi Takaya1, Rie Nakayama1, Fumi Yokohama1

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.

Plos One
|November 30, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Left atrial appendage (LAA) size increases with atrial fibrillation (AF) progression. Long-standing persistent AF is associated with significantly larger LAA dimensions, impacting transcatheter closure indications.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Left atrial appendage (LAA) size is a key factor in determining the need for transcatheter LAA closure.
  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia with varying classifications based on duration and pattern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between different types of atrial fibrillation and LAA morphology.
  • To assess if LAA dimensions differ across non-AF, paroxysmal AF, persistent AF, and long-standing persistent AF patient groups.

Main Methods:

  • A total of 299 patients were analyzed, categorized into four groups: non-AF, paroxysmal AF, persistent AF, and long-standing persistent AF.
  • Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was utilized to evaluate LAA morphology, including ostial diameter and depth, and LAA flow velocity.

Main Results:

  • Patients with long-standing persistent AF exhibited significantly larger LAA ostial diameter and depth compared to other groups.
  • LAA ostial diameter increased progressively with AF duration, correlating with LA volume index and continuous AF duration.
  • LAA flow velocity was lower in patients with long-standing persistent AF.

Conclusions:

  • LAA size increases with the progression of atrial fibrillation.
  • Understanding LAA morphology variations across AF types is crucial for guiding transcatheter LAA closure procedures.

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