High Incidence of Echocardiographic Abnormalities of the Interatrial Septum in Patients Undergoing Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

A structurally abnormal IAS was diagnosed in nearly half of the patients undergoing ablation therapy for AF. The information obtained by TEE is mandatory to exclude left atrial thrombi prior the ablation procedure. Moreover, detailed knowledge of morphologic characteristics of the IAS facilitates an optimized and safe performance of the transseptal puncture using long sheaths with large diameters.