Low wall velocity of left atrial appendage measured by trans-thoracic echocardiography predicts thrombus formation caused by atrial appendage dysfunction.

Atrial fibrillation is associated with ischemic stroke because of thrombi that form within the left atrial appendage (LAA). The aim of this study was to develop a new parameter for LAA function that is easily performed using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).TTE and transesophageal echocardiography were performed in 106 patients with stroke. LAA wall motion velocity (TTE-LAWV) was measured using Doppler tissue imaging at the LAA tip.TTE-LAWV was significantly lower in patients with atrial fibrillation and LAA thrombus than in those with atrial fibrillation and no LAA thrombus and in sinus rhythm (7.5 +/- 1.9 vs 10.0 +/- 3.4 and 13.8 +/- 5.7 cm/s, respectively, P < .05). TTE-LAWV was significantly correlated with LAA emptying flow velocity (R = 0.462, P < .05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TTE-LAWV < 8.7 cm/s was an independent predictor of LAA thrombus formation (odds ratio, 9.473; 95% confidence interval, 1.172-76.55; P < .05).TTE-LAWV can noninvasively evaluate LAA dysfunction and assist in the detection of LAA thrombus.