[Coronarography in the diagnosis of left atrial thrombosis].

Thrombosis of left atrium is frequent in the patients with mitral defect. Systemic embolism that generates by separated thrombus parts is a possible complication during the disease. Echocardiography is routinely used in the diagnosis of left atrial thrombosis. On the basis of angiographic experience, we have set the hypothesis: coronary angiography has a great sensitivity, but small specificity in the diagnosis of left atrial thrombosis. The presence of thrombus in left atrium was analyzed in 60 operated patients with mitral valve disease. During the surgery, thrombus was found in 13, and not found in 47 patients. Coronary angiography was preoperatively performed in all patients. In 9 out of 13 patients with intraoperatively observed left atrial thrombus, thrombus was also found by angiography. In 47 patients thrombus was found neither intraoperatively, and in 45 nor by angiography. The sensitivity of angiography in the diagnosis of left atrial thrombosis is 69%, specificity is 97%, and the accuracy is 90%. Positive index of anticipation is 81%, and negative index of anticipation is 91%.