Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (Aug 2022)

Stroke risk evaluation for patients with atrial fibrillation: Insights from left atrial appendage

  • Runxin Fang,
  • Yang Li,
  • Jun Wang,
  • Zidun Wang,
  • John Allen,
  • Chi Keong Ching,
  • Chi Keong Ching,
  • Liang Zhong,
  • Liang Zhong,
  • Zhiyong Li,
  • Zhiyong Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.968630
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Left atrial appendage (LAA) is believed to be a common site of thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the commonly-applied stroke risk stratification model (such as. CHA2DS2-VASc score) does not include any structural or hemodynamic features of LAA. Recent studies have suggested that it is important to incorporate LAA geometrical and hemodynamic features to evaluate the risk of thrombus formation in LAA, which may better delineate the AF patients for anticoagulant administration and prevent strokes. This review focuses on the LAA-related factors that may be associated with thrombus formation and cardioembolic events.

Keywords