Quantitative description of the 3D regional mechanics of the left atrium using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Pawel Kuklik, Payman Molaee, P Podziemski, Anand Ganesan, Anthony Brooks, Stephen Worthley, Prashanthan Sanders

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The left atrium (LA) plays an important role in the maintenance of hemodynamic and electrical stability of the heart. One of the conditions altering the atrial mechanical function is atrial fibrillation (AF), leading to an increased thromboembolic risk due to impaired mechanical function. Preserving the regions of the LA that contribute the greatest to atrial mechanical function during curative strategies for AF is important. The purpose of this study is to introduce a novel method of regional assessment of mechanical function of the LA. We used cardiac MRI to reconstruct the 3D geometry of the LA in nine control and nine patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Regional mechanical function of the LA in pre-defined segments of the atrium was calculated using regional ejection fraction and wall velocity. We found significantly greater mechanical function in anterior, septal and lateral segments as opposed to roof and posterior segments, as well as a significant decrease of mechanical function in the PAF group. We suggest that in order to minimize the impact of the AF treatment on global atrial mechanical function, damage related to therapeutic intervention, such as catheter ablation, in those areas should be minimized.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)763-775
    Number of pages13
    JournalPhysiological Measurement
    Volume35
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2014

    Keywords

    • 3D reconstruction
    • AF ablation
    • atrial fibrillation
    • atrial mechanical function
    • cardiac MRI

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