Assessment of left atrial appendage function by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) in assessment of left atrial appendage(LAA) function. Methods Forty-two atrial fibrillation patients underwent real-time three-dimensional TEE. LAA ejection fraction based on two-dimensional area measurements(EFA-2D), three-dimensional area measurements(EFA-3D) and three-dimensional volume measurements(EFv-3D) were calculated and related to LAA peak empty velocity (PEV). The variability within observer and interobserver were tested. Results EFA-2D was significantly higher than EFA-3D[(62.84 ± 17.27)% vs (45.39 ± 16.58)%, P = 0.000] and EFv-3D [( 62.84 ±17.27) % vs (48.35 ± 19.37) %, P = 0.001 ], whereas EFA-3D and EFv-3D had no significant difference ( P = 0.158). In a simple linear correlation,the degree of association between EFv-3D and PEV was higher as between EFA-3D and PEV ( r = 0.662 vs 0.604,both P ＜0.05). No significant correlation was observed between EFA-2D and PEV ( r = 0.529, P = 0.130). Variabilities within observer and interobserver were no significant differences by the three methods( P ＞0.05). Conclusions LAA ejection fraction calculation by real-time three-dimensional TEE is feasible and more accurate than by 2D TEE. Key words: Echocardiography,real-time three-dimension; Echocardiography, transesophageal; Atrial appendage