Document Detail


Evolving role of echocardiography in the management of atrial fibrillation.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11275914     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The most common cardiovascular arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AF), with an estimated prevalence of 2.5 million in 1994. The extent of this public health problem is enormous, particularly in its stroke sequelae. Routine management of this public health problem includes anticoagulation as the primary stroke-preventive measure. Echocardiography has been an important adjunctive tool in the evaluation of AF. More innovative and controversial is the putative role of transesophageal echocardiography in the treatment strategy of AF cardioversion to sinus rhythm. The standard of care for AF of less than 1-year duration is to attempt cardioversion to sinus rhythm. An alternative strategy is to utilize the assets of transesophageal echocardiography to visually screen the left atrium for thrombus, thereby playing an active role in the treatment strategy of AF. This review will discuss the role of echocardiography in AF as it was initially used as a diagnostic tool with weak prognostic features, and, more recently, as it can be used today as an adjunctive tool to guide therapy with excellent stroke risk-stratification features.
Authors:
A J Labovitz; T L Bransford
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American heart journal     Volume:  141     ISSN:  0002-8703     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. Heart J.     Publication Date:  2001 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2001-03-29     Completed Date:  2001-05-17     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370465     Medline TA:  Am Heart J     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  518-27     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Cardiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, 3635 Vista Ave and Grand, FDT-14, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. laboviaj@slu.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
Atrial Appendage / physiopathology
Atrial Fibrillation / complications,  physiopathology,  ultrasonography*
Atrial Function
Echocardiography, Transesophageal*
Electric Countershock
Hemodynamics
Humans
Stroke / etiology,  prevention & control
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anticoagulants

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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