"cauliflower: 3%."
"followed by the markedly positive late diastolic left atrial appendage contraction, with a velocity of 50–60 cm/s"
"bidirectional velocities measured > 40 cm/s amplitude reassuring for normal LAA contractile function, and low risk for thrombus"
"whereas velocities < 20 cm/s are concerning"
"The assessment of suspected thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage has emerged as one of the most common indications to utilise transoesophageal echocardiography. Echocardiographically derived measures of left atrial appendage contractility and flow characteristics are highly predictive of future thromboembolic stroke risk. While this is a well-known complication of atrial fibrillation, left atrial appendage dysfunction is a strong independent risk factor for ischaemic stroke and TIA 2,14."
Expected headings
"Morphological types"
"Transoesophageal echocardiography"
"Practical points"
"Some authors report that the presence of trabeculations and a smaller left atrial appendage orifice diameter may be associated with greater stroke prevalence in atrial fibrillation; i.e. the risk is lowest with chicken wing, with other types carrying higher risk: cactus (x 4.08), windsock (x 4.5), and cauliflower (x 8) 5."