Transesophageal echocardiography in atrial fibrillation as diagnosis of embolic source and its relation with embolic accidents

To determine, by means of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the risk factors for intracavitary thrombosis or prethrombotic state and for embolic accidents in patients with atrial fibrillation. We studied 49 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, submitted to clinical examination, EKG, chest X-ray, and TEE. Thirty percent of patients had valvopathies, 29% myocardiopathies, intracavitary thrombus or prethrombotic state were found in 37%, 40% of them had embolic accidents. We did not find statistical significance between myocardiopathies and valvulopathies. The left atrial diameter did not preview embolic accidents. We have observed 6 patients without structural cardiopathies, three of them presented embolic events, and one prethrombotic state. Embolic phenomena are inherent to atrial fibrillation and independent of structural cardiopathies, with indication to prophylactic use of oral anticoagulants.