Study of Detection of Left Atrial Enlargement by Echocardiography and ECG Correlation in Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Diseases

Abstract

Evidences highlight the importance of enlarged left atrium (LA) as a barometer of diastolic burden. Detection of left atrial enlargement or its progression is frequently important in clinical medicine. It is well established that LAE has close relationship with atrial fibrillation, systemic thromboembolism events and heart failure4. ECG assessment of left atrial enlargement is a non-invasive and universally available method12. ECG analysis for left atrial enlargement includes configuration, amplitude and duration of ‘P’ wave55. Echocardiographic LA dimension is the best non – invasive test of left atrial size25. This prospective study was carried out in Ramakrishna care hospital Raipur for 24 months to study the detection of left atrial enlargement by echocardiography with ECG correlation in cardiac and non-cardiac diseases. Rheumatic mitral and aortic valve disease was the most common cause of left atrial enlargement accounting for 26.67% in this study. Next in this order were atrial fibrillation 20%, Hypertension 18.33%, IHD 13.34%, isolated aortic valve diseases 10%, cardiomyopathies 05%. MVP and Thyrotoxicosis each accounting for 3.33%. Echo was simple, non invasive technique to detect LAE from mild to severe grade and help for therapeutic purpose, prevent complications. So, echo was found to be more specific in detection of LAE than ECG. Keywords: LA-Left atrium, LV-Left ventricle, AF-Atrial fibrillation.