Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Jul 2004
Comparative StudyTransthoracic echocardiography for precardioversion screening during atrial flutter/fibrillation in young patients.
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is reliable for detection of thrombi in the left ventricle and right atrium, but not in the left atrial appendage. Therefore, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is routinely performed in adults prior to electric cardioversion for atrial flutter/fibrillation (AFF). Whether young survivors of congenital heart disease repair with AFF need routine TEE prior to electric cardioversion is unknown. ⋯ These findings suggest that TTE may be an effective imaging tool for precardioversion screening in young patients with AFF.