Study Of Morphologic Characteristics Of The Left Atrium In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation By Computed Tomography

Objective Using computed tomography(CT) to investigate the anatomy of the left atrium(LA) of patients with atrial fibrillation(AF). Methods Multidetector CT scan was used to depict the left atrium in 36 patients with AF(23 males, age=51±12 years) and 21 patients without AF(12 males, age=46±11 years). Results The area of left atrial appendage(LAA) , the LA volume and the distance of LA roof were greater in AF group than in without AF group. The morphologic characteristics of LAA location, LAA ridge(AF group:length 2.8±0.5,width 0.4±0.1; without AF group:length 2.7±0.4, width 0.4±0.1) and LA roof were described, they were not different between two groups.The incidence of abnormal pulmonary venous orifice was 17% in AF group and 10% in without AF group,there was no significant differrnce between them.The difference between patients with paroxysmal AF and persistent AF was similar as that between AF group and without AF group. Conclusion The LA and LAA were larger in patients with AF than patients without AF. Peculiar structure,including LAA location,LAA ridge , LA roof and PV orifice was not different between two groups. These finding can provide very useful information for avoiding complication and improving the strategy of AF ablation.