Shadows on the Cave Wall: The Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Bernard J. Gersh
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1995)

Editorials1 December 1995Shadows on the Cave Wall: The Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Atrial FibrillationBernard J. Gersh, MB, ChB, DPhil and John S. Gottdiener, MDBernard J. Gersh, MB, ChB, DPhilGeorgetown University Medical Center Washington, DC 20007-2197.Search for more papers by this author and John S. Gottdiener, MDGeorgetown University Medical Center Washington, DC 20007-2197.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-123-11-199512010-00012 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia requiring therapy, affects 0.4% of the general population and 2% to 5% of persons older than the age of 60 years [1-3]. Moreover, atrial fibrillation has become the focus of renewed interest and investigation. Current management strategies include cardioversion and antiarrhythmic drugs to maintain sinus rhythm and the alternative approach of rate control. In the latter, the ventricular response is modified by the use of dromotropic drugs, catheter ablation, or radiofrequency modification of the atrioventricular node. In both strategies, anticoagulation or platelet inhibitor therapy is used for preventing embolic stroke.The use of anticoagulation ...References1. Cairns JA, Connolly SJ. Nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Risk of stroke and role of antithrombotic therapy. Circulation. 1991; 84:469-81. Google Scholar2. Wolf PA, Abbott RD, Kannel WB. Atrial fibrillation: a major contribution to stroke in the elderly. The Framingham Study. Arch Intern Med. 1987; 147:1561-4. Google Scholar3. Chun SH, Sager PT, Stevenson WG, Nademanee K, Middlekauff HR, Singh BN. Long-term efficacy of amiodarone for the maintenance of normal sinus rhythm in patients with refractory atrial fibrillation or flutter. 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Transesophageal echocardiography and carotid ultrasound in patients with cerebral ischemia: prevalence of findings and recurrent stroke risk. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1994; 23:1598-603. Google Scholar21. Frazin L, Talano JV, Stephanides L, Loeb HS, Kopel L, Gunnar RM. Esophageal echocardiography. Circulation. 1976; 54:102-8. Google Scholar22. Aschenberg W, Schluter M, Kremer P, Schroder E, Siglow V, Bleifeld W. Transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography for the detection of left atrial appendage thrombus. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1986; 7:163-6. Google Scholar23. Tardif JC, Schwartz SL, Vannan MA, Cao QL, Pandian NG. Clinical usefulness of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography: comparison to biplanar imaging. Am Heart J. 1994; 128:156-66. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Bernard J. Gersh, MB, ChB, DPhil; John S. Gottdiener, MDAffiliations: Georgetown University Medical Center Washington, DC 20007-2197.Corresponding Author: Bernard J. Gersh, MB, ChB, DPhil, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3800 Reservoir Road NW, PHC-5, Washington, DC 20007-2197.Current Author Addresses: Drs. Gersh and Gottdiener: Georgetown University Medical Center, 3800 Reservoir Road NW, PHC-5, Washington, DC 20007-2197. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAccuracy of Transesophageal Echocardiography for Identifying Left Atrial Thrombi: A Prospective, Intraoperative Study Warren J. Manning , Ronald M. Weintraub , Carol A. Waksmonski , J. Michael Haering , Paula S. Rooney , Andrew D. Maslow , Robert G. Johnson , and Pamela S. Douglas Metrics Cited byImaging Artifacts in EchocardiographyThe Role of Echocardiography in Thromboembolic Risk Assessment of Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial FibrillationDiagnosis of Left Atrial Appendage Thrombi by Multiplane Transesophageal Echocardiography Interlaboratory Comparative StudyStructural Remodeling of the Left Atrial Appendage in Patients with Chronic Non-Valvular Atrial FibrillationBrain Embolism 1 December 1995Volume 123, Issue 11Page: 882-884KeywordsAnticoagulantsAtrial fibrillationEchocardiographyLeft atriumSpecificityStrokeSurgeryThromboembolismThrombosisUltrasound imaging ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 1 December 1995 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1995 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...