Transesophageal echocardiographic finding of left atrial appendage lobe mimicking a mass lesion

We describe an elderly patient undergoing ablation for atrial fibrillation in whom, two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography showed a mass-like lesion in or adjacent to left atrial appendage (LAA). This mass-like effect was produced by en face visualization of the top of a LAA lobe in the presence of a small effusion in the transverse sinus of the pericardium.     

Correlative Anatomy for the Electrophysiologist,Part I: The Pericardial Space,Oblique Sinus,Transverse Sinus

The Pericardial Space, Oblique Sinus, Transverse Sinus . There is an increasing need for invasive electrophysiologists to appreciate the exact anatomy of the epicardial space and the coronary veins. The location of the epicardial fat, the complementary relationship with the main cardiac veins, and the location of sensitive structures (arteries, phrenic nerve, esophagus) have become required knowledge for electrophysiologists, and accessing the epicardial space with this thorough knowledge of the pericardial sinuses and recesses is essential to allow radiographic correlation during catheter manipulation. In this review, we briefly describe the anatomy of the pericardial space and then discuss the specific correlation for the invasive electrophysiologist, highlighting epicardial access, catheter navigation, and avoidance of collateral injury with specific attention to the important recesses of the pericardial space, their regional anatomy, and radiographic correlation when navigating catheters to these locations. We also discuss the anatomy of the main cardiac veins in the context of catheter mapping and ablation of the epicardial substrate through the venous system and without subxiphoid pericardial access. In Part I of this two‐part series, we discuss the regional anatomy of the pericardial space, oblique sinus, and transverse sinus. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 21, pp. 1421‐1426, December 2010)     

Transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of thrombus in accessory lobes of the left atrial appendage

Fifty-four percent of left atrial appendages have two lobes. The number ranges from one to four lobes. We describe three patients with accessory lobes of the left atrial appendage studied with multiplanar transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). In one patient there was evidence of thrombi in the accessory lobe.     

Secondary prognosis after cardioembolic stroke of atrial origin: the role of left atrial and left atrial appendage dysfunction

BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention studies for cardioembolic strokes show a remarkable variability in stroke recurrence rates. Various reports have raised questions regarding differences in baseline clinical characteristics and in methodology to explain this wide variability. HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of the present study is to examine the 2-year outcome after first cardioembolic stroke of atrial origin and to correlate secondary prognosis with left atrial and left atrial appendage dysfunction. METHODS: Baseline evaluation included computed tomographic and/or magnetic resonance scanning, Doppler scanning, digital subtraction angiography, and transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography to establish the diagnosis of atrial source of emboli. Twenty-six patients in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and 13 in sinus rhythm were followed for recurrent stroke and vascular death as endpoints (event +/-). RESULTS: Patients in sinus rhythm had a total of 23% (standard deviation +/- 12%) recurrence rate. All event (+) patients were on aspirin and died from this second cardioembolic stroke. Of patients in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation, 50% were event (+) at the end of the first year (death rate 46%). Patients on warfarin therapy had 20% recurrence rate versus 70% on aspirin (relative risk 0, 18, 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.48, p 0.041). Inward peak velocity of left atrial appendage was the only echocardiographic variable significantly reduced in event (+) patients (21 +/- 7 vs. 31 +/- 17 cm/s, p 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and first atrial origin cardioembolic stroke are at increased risk for recurrence if severe dysfunction of the left atrial appendage is present and if they do not receive warfarin treatment. Patients with sinus rhythm and first atrial origin cardioembolic stroke form a small stroke subgroup, in which recurrences are accompanied by a remarkably high death rate.     

Clinical and echocardiographic risk factors for embolization in the presence of left atrial thrombus

AIMS: The aim of our study was to evaluate the factors leading to embolization in patients with left atrial thrombi (LAT). With this purpose, we retrospectively analyzed clinical, transthoracic, transesophageal echocardiographic data of patients with LAT in the transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two patients with LAT not on anticoagulant therapy were divided into two groups according to the presence of prior ischemic stroke. The group with ischemic stroke included more patients with sinus rhythm and less patients with mitral stenosis. They had smaller left atrial diameter, more left atrial appendage spontaneous echo-contrast, higher appendage ejection fraction, and emptying velocity. CONCLUSION: Once the thrombus has been formed, cerebral embolization seems to be higher in patients with relatively preserved appendage ejection fraction and emptying velocity. Presence of atrial appendage spontaneous echo-contrast also favor embolization. Factors leading to embolization seem to differ in some respects from the causes of thrombus formation.     

Perforation of the aortic sinus after closure of atrial septal defects with the Atriasept occluder

Percutaneous atrial septal defect closure is routinely performed nowadays because of the ease of implantation as well as the low complication rate. The Atriasept ASD occluder is a low profile, double disc device; over the years several modifications have been made. We report two cases of aortic sinus perforation by the Atriasept ASD occluder (model 2007). Two asymptomatic patients, in whom the device was implanted, were noticed to have metal projecting into the aorta. Real‐time fluoroscopy showed fractures of the outer metal ring with abnormal movement of one of the struts of the device. One patient is being conservatively managed and in the other the device was surgically removed due to the presence of a second ASD, which needed closure. Transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy may be necessary to identify this potentially life‐threatening complication of this device. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic measurement of left atrial appendage blood flow velocity: comparison with transoesophageal measurement.

AIM: We validated transthoracic echocardiographic measurements of left atrial appendage flow velocity by comparing them with transoesophageal echocardiographic measurements. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-four consecutive patients (mean age, 64.6 years) with various cardiac diseases, who underwent both transthoracic echocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography were studied. Thirty-two patients were in sinus rhythm, and the remaining 52 patients were in atrial fibrillation. On transthoracic echocardiography, the transducer was placed somewhat superior and outside from the position viewing the conventional parasternal short-axis image of the aortic valve, so that the angle between left atrial appendage midline and Doppler beam could be narrowed. The left atrial appendage flow velocity pattern was recorded by pulsed Doppler mode with a sampling volume placed at the left atrial appendage orifice on both transthoracic echocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography. In both approaches, the peak emptying velocity (LAA-E) and the peak filling velocity (LAA-F) of the left atrial appendage were measured. In sinus rhythm, the LAA-E was detectable in 25 of the 32 patients (78.1%) and the LAA-F in 20 of the 32 patients (62.5%). Both LAA-E and LAA-F were detectable in 46 of the 52 patients (88.5%) in atrial fibrillation. Good correlations of LAA-E and LAA-F were observed between transthoracic echocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography measurements in sinus rhythm (r=0.94, r=0.95, respectively; both, P<0.0001) and in atrial fibrillation (r=0.89, r=0.95, respectively; both, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The left atrial appendage flow velocities could be sufficiently recorded and assessed by transthoracic echocardiography in 84 Japanese unselected consecutive patients with sinus rhythm or atrial fibrillation.     

Safety profiles of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure devices: An analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database from 2009 to 2016

1 Background

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is a viable option for AF patients who are unable to tolerate long‐term oral anticoagulation (OAC).

2 Objective

We sought to assess the safety of two commonly used percutaneous devices for LAA closure in the United States by analysis of surveillance data from the FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database.

3 Methods

The MAUDE database was queried between May 1, 2006 and May 1, 2016 for LARIAT^® (SentreHEART Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA) and WATCHMAN? (Boston Scientific Corp., Marlborough, MA, USA) devices. Among 622 retrieved medical device reports, 356 unique and relevant reports were analyzed. The cumulative incidence of safety events was calculated over the study period and compared between the two devices.

4 Results

LAAC was performed with LARIAT in 4,889 cases. WATCHMAN was implanted in 2,027 patients prior to FDA approval in March 2015 and 3,822 patients postapproval. The composite outcome of stroke/TIA, pericardiocentesis, cardiac surgery, and death occurred more frequently with WATCHMAN (cumulative incidence, 1.93% vs. 1.15%; P = 0.001). The same phenomenon was observed when comparing the WATCHMAN pre‐ and postapproval experiences for the composite outcome, as well as device embolization, cardiac surgery, and myocardial infarction.

5 Conclusions

MAUDE‐reported data show that postapproval, new technology adoption is fraught with increased complications. Improved collaboration between operators, device manufacturers, and regulators can better serve patients through increased transparency and practical postmarket training and monitoring mechanisms.     

Congenital partial pericardial defect and herniated right atrial appendage: a rare anomaly

A congenital partial defect of the right-sided pericardium is a rare cardiac anomaly and it represents defective formation of the pleuropericardial membrane. Patients can be asymptomatic, but they may experience chest pain, myocardial ischemia, emboli, arrhythmia, and sudden death. In this report, we present an 8-month-old boy with pericardial defect and right atrial appendage herniation. It was diagnosed by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.     

A rare congenital anomaly: biatrial appendage aneurysm with atrial and ventricular septal defect

Atrial appendage aneurysms are extremely rare entities in cardiology practice. There are reports of solitary left and right atrial appendage aneurysms in the literature. A case of biatrial appendages aneurysms is reported here. This is the first report of such an anomaly.     

Problems and pitfalls in the echocardiographic assessment of pericardial effusion

The echocardiographic diagnosis of pericardial effusions is usually based on visualization of a sonolucent circumcardiac space of varying width. However, potential fallacies in interpretation can arise if sonolucent spaces adjacent to the heart (pleural effusions, ascites, pericardial cysts) are mistaken for pericardial effusions. Loculated pericardial effusions, especially if unusual in location or configuration, can cause diagnostic difficulty on occasion. The differential diagnosis of various "solid" echoes within a pericardial effusion is of clinical relevance, yet not widely discussed. Inflammatory tissue, neoplastic involvement, pus, caseous material, and extravasated blood all have characteristic echocardiographic morphologies. All of the various reported echocardiographic signs of tamponade do not have the same significance, so that caution is necessary not to over- or under-read tamponade. Chamber collapse can be absent in real tamponade in specific situations. On the other hand, "regional" tamponade can occur if loculated pericardial effusions are sufficiently large and high tension; echocardiographic appearances are "atypical" but diagnostically valuable if correctly interpreted. These and certain other unusual variants of tamponade deserve to be better known among echocardiographers not only because of their intrinsic interest, but also to avoid potential pitfalls in the echocardiographic assessment of patients with suspected disease.     

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Intussusception of the Left Atrial Appendage

Intraoperative postbypass transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a large pedunculated left atrial mass secondary to invagination of the left atrial appendage into the left atrial cavity. The base of the mass was between the entrance of the left upper pulmonary vein and the posterior attachment of the mitral valve at the atrioventricular groove, and the body of it protruded into the left atrium and mitral funnel. Retraction of the appendage to its normal position resulted in disappearance of the mass. This diagnosis should be considered when a pedunculated mass with these morphological features is encountered in this setting. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 10, November 1993)