Ultrasound Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ultrasound, including details on screening, diagnosis, pregnancy, detection.

Relation of left atrial size to function as determined by transesophageal echocardiography.

Blondheim DS, Osipov A, Meisel SR, Frimerman A, Shochat M, Shotan A

Unit of Noninvasive Cardiology, Heart Institute, Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel. blond@netvision.net.il

One hundred thirty-nine patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiographic studies were grouped by their maximal left atrial (LA) volumes, and their stroke volumes, emptying fractions, and fractional shortening were calculated. In large atria, an inverse relation was found between further increases in LA volume and LA function, determined by emptying fractions and fractional shortening.

Published 1 August 2005 in Am J Cardiol, 96(3): 457-63.
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