Agmon Y, Khandheria B K, Gentile F, Seward J B
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999 Dec;34(7):1867-77. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(99)00472-6.
The left atrial (LA) appendage is a common source of cardiac thrombus formation associated with systemic embolism. Transesophageal echocardiography allows a detailed evaluation of the structure and function of the appendage by two-dimensional imaging and Doppler interrogation of appendage flow. Specific flow patterns, reflecting appendage function, have been characterized for normal sinus rhythm and various abnormal cardiac rhythms. Appendage dysfunction has been associated with LA appendage spontaneous echocardiographic contrast, thrombus formation and thromboembolism. These associations have been studied extensively in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, in patients undergoing cardioversion of atrial arrhythmias and in patients with mitral valve disease. The present review summarizes the literature on the echocardiographic assessment of LA appendage structure, function and dysfunction, which has become an integral part of the routine clinical transesophageal echocardiographic examination.
左心耳是与系统性栓塞相关的心脏血栓形成的常见来源。经食管超声心动图可通过二维成像和对心耳血流的多普勒检查对心耳的结构和功能进行详细评估。反映心耳功能的特定血流模式已针对正常窦性心律和各种异常心律进行了特征描述。心耳功能障碍与左心耳自发超声心动图造影、血栓形成和血栓栓塞有关。这些关联已在心房颤动或心房扑动患者、接受房性心律失常转复的患者以及二尖瓣疾病患者中进行了广泛研究。本综述总结了关于左心耳结构、功能和功能障碍的超声心动图评估的文献，这已成为常规临床经食管超声心动图检查不可或缺的一部分。
