The role of echocardiography in thromboembolic risk assessment of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Echocardiography is a widely used and versatile technique that can provide comprehensive information concerning thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. The authors review the potential contributions of echocardiography to thromboembolic risk stratification and to decreasing the thromboembolic risk associated with procedures such as cardioversion and ablation. Unsolved questions and new possibilities that have arisen from the development of strain and strain rate imaging are also discussed.

Keywords: 2D; 3D; AF; Atrial fibrillation; DTI; Doppler tissue imaging; ENGAGE AF–TIMI 48; Effective Anticoagulation with Factor Xa Next Generation in Atrial Fibrillation–Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 48; LA; LV; Left atrial; Left ventricular; SEC; ST; Speckle-tracking; Spontaneous echocardiographic contrast; Strain; Strain rate; Stroke; TEE; TTE; Three-dimensional; Thromboembolism; Transesophageal echocardiogram; Transesophageal echocardiography; Transthoracic echocardiogram; Transthoracic echocardiography; Two-dimensional; VVI; Vector velocity imaging.