Accurate Detection Of Left Atrial Thrombus Prior To Atrial Fibrillation Ablation In Patients With Therapeutic Anticoagulation: Does Transesophageal

Citation :Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy.Accurate Detection Of Left Atrial Thrombus Prior To Atrial Fibrillation Ablation In Patients With Therapeutic Anticoagulation: Does Transesophageal Echocardiography Beat Conventional Wisdom? .JAFIB.2009 Feb;Volume 1 Issue(5): 308-310.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases the risk of left atrial (LA) thrombus and systemic thromboembolism . Screening transesophageal echo (TEE) to rule out left atrial thrombus has become standard of care over the years . Conventional thinking of therapeutic anticoagulation for 4-6 weeks prior to cardioversion may not reduce the risk of left atrial thrombus completely. Left atrial thrombi can be seen on 2-9% of screening TEEs in AF patients with various levels of anticoagulation . Radiofrequency ablation of atria with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with or without various additional ablative techniques has evolved into very important strategy in the treatment of patients with AF .