Usefulness of transoesophageal echocardiography before circumferential pulmonary vein ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation: is it really mandatory?

Abstract

The incidence of LA thrombus prior to CPVA is low. Persistent AF, female sex, structural cardiopathy, and LA dilation were associated with the presence of LA thrombus. Our data suggest that the use of TEE prior to CPVA to detect LA thrombi might not be needed in patients with paroxysmal AF and no LA dilation or structural cardiopathy.