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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Left atrial appendage function by strain and structure is associated with thromboembolic risk in patients with

Loreta Skrebelyte-Strøm1,2, Jørg Saberniak3, Eivind Bjørkan Orstad3

  • 1Neurolgy and Cardiology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway Loreta.Skrebelyte-Strom@ahus.no.

Open Heart
|May 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Left atrial appendage (LAA) strain and morphology predict thrombus and thromboembolic risk in cryptogenic stroke patients. LAA function and structure are key factors in stroke risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Cryptogenic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients often have left atrial appendage (LAA) issues.
  • Understanding LAA thrombus and thromboembolic risk conditions (TRC) is crucial for stroke prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the impact of LAA function (strain), morphology, and subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) on LAA thrombus and TRC.
  • Identify predictors of LAA thrombus and TRC in patients with cryptogenic stroke/TIA.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 185 patients with cryptogenic stroke/TIA.
  • Evaluated LAA function and morphology using echocardiography (including strain) and 3D imaging.
  • Monitored for subclinical AF using insertable cardiac monitors.

Main Results:

  • LAA strain and 'chicken wing' morphology predicted LAA thrombus.
  • LAA 'chicken wing' and multilobate morphology predicted TRC.
  • Subclinical AF longer than 6 hours correlated with spontaneous echo contrast and recurrent stroke/TIA.

Conclusions:

  • LAA function (strain) and structure are independent predictors of LAA thrombus.
  • LAA morphology is independently associated with TRC in cryptogenic stroke/TIA patients.
  • These findings aid in assessing thromboembolic risk in stroke patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
atrial fibrillationechocardiographystroketelemedicine

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