Velocity encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance to assess left atrial appendage emptying

Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Research

Boris Hoffmann¹  Kai Muellerleile¹  Daniel Steven¹  Thomas Rostock¹  Arian Sultan¹  Stephan Willems¹  Michael Groth²  Gerhard Adam²  Gunnar K Lund² 

[1] Center for Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D - 20246, Hamburg, Germany;Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D - 20246, Hamburg, Germany;

关键词: Left atrial appendage;    Atrial fibrillation;    Stroke;    Cardiovascular magnetic resonance;    Transesophageal echocardiography.;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1532-429X-14-39

 received in 2012-01-24, accepted in 2012-05-03,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe presence of impaired left atrial appendage (LAA) function identifies patients who are prone to thrombus formation in the LAA and therefore being at high risk for subsequent cardioembolic stroke. LAA function is typically assessed by measurements of LAA emptying velocities using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in clinical routine. This study aimed at evaluating the feasibility of assessing LAA emptying by velocity encoded (VENC) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).MethodsThis study included 30 patients with sinus rhythm (n = 18) or atrial fibrillation (n = 12). VENC-CMR velocity measurements were performed perpendicular to the orifice of the LAA. Peak velocities were measured of passive diastolic LAA emptying (e-wave) in all patients. Peak velocities of active, late-diastolic LAA emptying (a-wave) were assessed in patients with sinus rhythm. Correlation and agreement was analyzed between VENC-CMR and TEE measurements of e- and a-wave peak velocities.ResultsA significant correlation and good agreement was found between VENC-CMR and TEE measurements of maximal e-wave velocities (r = 0.61, P < 0.001; mean difference 0 ± 10 cm/s). The a-wave was detectable by VENC-CMR in all patients with sinus rhythm. Correlation was also significant for measurements of peak a-wave velocities between VENC-CMR and TEE (r = 0.71, P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation of LAA emptying velocities with clinical characteristics and only a modest negative correlation of passive LAA emptying with LA function.ConclusionsThe assessment of active and passive LAA emptying by VENC-CMR is feasible. Further evaluation is required of potential future clinical applications such as risk stratification for cardioembolic stroke.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Muellerleile et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012