Transoesophageal echocardiography improves fibrillation outcome:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Transoesophageal echocardiography improves outcome in fibrillation patients, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (May). Researchers from Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, used transoesophageal echo to check for clotting in 230 atrial fibrillation patients in a prospective, consecutive study. Thromboembolism is a major cause of complication and death in this group of patients. The team identified clots in 34 patients, who went on to prolonged anticoagulation. The remaining 196 patients were successfully converted to sinus rhythm.