Imaging of the left atrium: pathophysiology insights and clinical utility
Otto A. Smiseth, Tomasz Baron, Paolo Marino, Thomas H. Marwick, Frank A. Flachskampf
Abstract
Left atrial imaging and detailed knowledge of its pathophysiology, especially in the context of heart failure, have become an increasingly important clinical and research focus. This development has been accelerated by the growth of non-invasive imaging modalities, advanced image processing techniques, such as strain imaging, and the parallel emergence of catheter-based left atrial interventions like pulmonary vein ablation, left atrial appendage occlusion, and others. In this review, we focus on novel imaging methods for the left atrium, their pathophysiological background, and their clinical relevance for various cardiac conditions and diseases.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineLeft atriumContext (archaeology)Pulmonary veinPathophysiologyCatheter ablationCardiologyAblationAtrial fibrillationCardiac imagingInternal medicineRadiologyPaleontologyBiologyCardiovascular Function and Risk FactorsAtrial Fibrillation Management and OutcomesCardiac Imaging and Diagnostics