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| SIGNIFICANCE
OF TRANSOESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN DETECTING THROMBOTIC
MASSES IN THE LEFT ATRIUM AND LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE |
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Z. Kušljugić, M. Merić, E. Kabil and I. Terzić |
| Internal
Clinic, Department of Cardiology, Clinic of Cardiovascular
Diseases, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Due to the
fact that TEE is able to visualise the left atrium (LA) and left
atrial appendage (LAA) with high diagnostic accuracy in nearly
all patients, many medical centres, including ours, use TEE for
detection of thrombotic masses in LA and LAA. Material and methods:
We detected an increase of the LA over 4,5 cm, without thrombotic
masses, in 20 patients, using the TTE. 12 patients had atrial
fibrillation and cardioversion was recommended respectively. 5
patients had mitral stenosis and three of them had mitral regurgitation.
In all patients, TEE was performed after the TTE, using the multiplane
transducer "Hewlett Packard". Thrombotic masses were detected
in 13 patients, which indicates rather high sensitivity of the
TEE in relation to the TTE.
Keywords: Transoesophageal echocardiography, thrombotic masses.
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