Assessment Of The Left Atrial Appendage Function By Strain Rate Imaging In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Objective:To assess the feasibility of measuring left atrial appendage(LAA)function with strain rate imaging in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation(AF),and to explores its mechanical movement changes in pathological conditions.Methods:31 controls and 29 patients with persistent AF are studied.Strain rate(SR)are performed with offline analysis in 5 segments of LAA wall.SR detected a systolic(Ssr)and diastolic(Dsr) deformation induced by LAA active motion.LAA emptying(LAA-EV)and filling velocities(LAA-FV)are obtained by transesophageal echocardiography.LAA ejection fraction(LAA-EF)is also measured.Results:At the tip of LAA,Ssr and Dsr are higher than other segments in control group(P＜0.01).In AF group,the tip Ssr is higher than the middle part of the lateral and the septal wall(P＜0.05),while the tip Dsr is only higher than the middle part of the septal wall(P＜0.05).At the tip of LAA,Ssr and Dsr are higher in control group than AF group(P＜0.01).In control group,Ssr taken from the tip of the LAA were positively correlated with LAA-EV and LAA-EF(r=0.724,0.637,P＜0.001,respectively).In AF group,Ssr taken from the tip of the LAA were negatively correlated with left atrium dimension(r=-0.528,P＜0.01).Conclusion:The tip Ssr plays an impor- tant role in LAA emptying.The systolic and diastolic functions of LAA are significant impaired in AF patients.The movements of LAA in AF patients are out of coordination.