Peak Left Atrial Appendage Emptying Velocity Remains Reduced in Atrial Fibrillation during Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

Although regions of stasis such as the left atrial appendage (LAA) may be potential sites of thrombus formation during atrial fibrillation (AF), its thrombotic contribution during high flow mechanical unloading is unknown. Moreover, registry studies only show a mixed association of AF and stroke during continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF LVAD) support. Since a lower peak Left Atrial Appendage Emptying Velocity (LAAEV) of less than 40 cm/s during AF, mechanistically contributes to thrombosis and stroke in non-CF LVAD populations, we sought to evaluate the LAAEV in CF LVAD patients with and without AF.

Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - March 16, 2019 Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: A. Rahman, E. Tam, L. ZHeng, J. Fontes, S. Forest, S. Vukelic, D. Sims, J. Shin, S. Patel, D.J. Goldstein, U.P. Jorde, O. Saeed Tags: 88 Source Type: research