Korean Circ J.  1993 Oct;23(5):684-691. 10.4070/kcj.1993.23.5.684.

Risk Factor of Left Atrial Thrombi after Valve Replacement

• Kim YN
• Song YS
• Cho SR
• Park KA
• Choi SY

• KMID: 2229249
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1993.23.5.684

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Thromboembolism is the major complication in patients with the insertion of cardiac prosthetic valves. The purpose of this study is evaluate the risk factors about the formation of left atrial thrombi after cardiac valve replacement. METHOD: Transesophageal(TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) were done to evaluate postoperative cardiac condition in 98 patients with cardiac prosthetic valves from Jan. 1991 to Oct 1991. Several clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analyzied to evaluate the relationship with the formation of left atrial thrombi. RESULT: In univariate analysis, important factors related to the formation of left atrial thrombi are type of operation (p=0.027), postoperative left ventricular function(p=0.003), preoperative(p=0.037) and postoperative systolic ventricular size(p=0.024). However, in multivariate analysis postoperative left ventricular size(p=0.017), presence of previous thrombi(p=0.014), preoperative left atrial size(p=0.014) and postoperative left atrial size(p=0.014) are significant factors. CONCLUSION: Patients with high risk and low risk for the formation of left atrial thrombi after valve replacement can be identified by readily available clinical and echocardiographic variables.

MeSH Terms

Echocardiography
Heart Valves
Humans
Multivariate Analysis
Risk Factors*
Thromboembolism