Assessment of left atrial shape and volume in structural remodeling secondary to atrial fibrillation

J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2009 Sep;25(3):167-70. doi: 10.1007/s10840-008-9349-4. Epub 2009 Jan 16.

Abstract

Purpose: Assessment of volume in relation with left atrial (LA) shape alteration before and after PV isolation.

Methods: We compared trapezoidal modification of LA using echocardiography with the ellipsoid formula (EEL: ) and CT, with both ellipsoid (CTEL: ) and truncated cone formulas (CTTR: ), in 40 patients, before and +/-3 months after AF ablation.

Results: A trapezoidal shape was present in 76.3% of patients. The different volume measurements were statistically correlated (r = 0.603-0.837, p < 0.001) irrespective of the formula used. After reverse remodeling, with 77.5% of patients in stable sinus rhythm, correlation coefficient for volume remained significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: In AF, dilation of the LA is associated with a geometrical trapezoidal change in many cases. The CT truncated cone formula applies best for precise evaluation of trapezoidal shape alteration in dilated AF atria. There is a good correlation between CTTR: and echocardiography which remains a valuable estimation for volume calculation in clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Fibrillation / diagnostic imaging*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / surgery*
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Female
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Atria / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged