TRANSESOPHAGEAL TWO-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY FOR THE DETECTION OF LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE THROMBUS

Thrombi located in the left atrial appendage are frequently not detected with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography. The transesophageal echocardiographic approach readily visualizes left atrial morphology and may be used as an alternative. In 6 of 21 patients with mitral valve stenosis, a left atrial appendage thrombus was diagnosed by transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography when transthoracic echocardiography had failed. The transesophageal echocardiographic findings were confirmed at surgery for mitral valve replacement in all cases.