Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation in 1 patient with atrial fibrillation revealed an isolated right atrial appendage thrombus, highlighting the importance of screening the right side.
Case Report (n=1)
Routine transesophageal echocardiography in atrial fibrillation should include evaluation of the right atrial appendage to rule out potentially dangerous thrombus formation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically encountered arrhythmia in adults. Because it is associated with an increased risk of atrial thrombus formation and embolism, medical and/or electrical cardioversion is the preferred treatment method in the majority of clinics. Thrombus formation in the setting of AF most commonly occurs in the left atrial appendage (LAA), left atrium (LA), right atrial appendage (RAA), and right atrium in decreasing frequency. In routine transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation for AF, examination is generally limited to LA and LAA. Although relatively rare when compared with the left side, RAA thrombus has also the potential of embolism and should be screened. A case of RAA thrombus in which the LA and LAA were spared is described. The authors aimed to underline the importance of this rare but potentially dangerous complication of AF.
Özer et al. (Tue,) conducted a case report in Atrial Fibrillation (n=1). Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation in 1 patient with atrial fibrillation revealed an isolated right atrial appendage thrombus, highlighting the importance of screening the right side.
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