EACVI/EHRA Expert Consensus Document on the role of multi-modality imaging for the evaluation of patients with atrial fibrillation

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Donal E., Lip G. Y. H., Galderisi M., Goette A., Shah D., Marwan M., ...More

EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING, vol.17, no.4, pp.355-383, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 17 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1093/ehjci/jev354
  • Journal Name: EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.355-383
  • Keywords: Atrial fibrillation, Cardiac imaging, Cardiac magnetic resonance, Doppler echocardiography, Computed tomography, Pathophysiology, RADIOFREQUENCY CATHETER ABLATION, SPONTANEOUS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC CONTRAST, SPECKLE-TRACKING ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, CARDIAC MAGNETIC-RESONANCE, SPONTANEOUS ECHO CONTRAST, APPENDAGE CLOSURE DEVICE, PULMONARY VEIN STENOSIS, TIME 3-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, MULTISLICE COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY, VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC FUNCTION
  • Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest cardiac rhythm disorder. Evaluation of patients with AF requires an electrocardiogram, but imaging techniques should be considered for defining management and driving treatment. The present document is an expert consensus from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the European Heart Rhythm Association. The clinical value of echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging in AF patients are challenged. Left atrial (LA) volume and strain in echocardiography as well as assessment of LA fibrosis in CMR are discussed. The value of CT, especially in planning interventions, is highlighted. Fourteen consensus statements have been reached. These may serve as a guide for both imagers and electrophysiologists for best selecting the imaging technique and for best interpreting its results in AF patients.