Kardiol Pol
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Stunning of the left atrium after pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.
Stunning of the left atrium and atrial appendage is a well known but not fully clarified phenomenon observed during the cardioversion of atrial fibrillation regardless of the cardioversion method attempted. ⋯ Successful pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation causes the left atrium and left atrial appendage contractility impairment similar to that observed with other methods of the sinus rhythm restoration. Following the AF cardioversion the level of left atrial stunning is higher in the patients treated with propafenone than in subjects receiving amiodarone.
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A case of a 70 year old female with permanent atrial fibrillation and a history of stroke is presented. Echocardiography showed the presence of an oval mass in the left atrium which suggested thrombus or atrial myxoma. The patient underwent urgent cardiac surgery during which a long thrombus, originating from the left atrial appendage, was successfully removed.