Abstract
The atria can go into dilation when stenosis or insufficiency of valvular apparatus occurs. The atrial kick contributes to a stroke volume of around 20 % and its contribution increases when there is diastolic dysfunction owing to the elevation of atrial pressure. An increased atrial volume is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular events, including stroke and congestive heart failure. Accordingly, accurate measurement of the atrial size has become increasingly relevant to clinical practice. Most clinical studies have used echocardiographic measurements, because echocardiography is the most accepted and best validated modality for atrial volume quantification.
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Further Reading
Kenneth KE (2008) Anatomy of the left atrial appendage. Echocardiography 25:669–673
Oh JK, Steward JB, Tajik AJ (2007) The echo manual. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia
Whitlock M, Garg A, Gelow J, Jacobson T, Broberg C (2010) Comparison of left and right atrial volume by echocardiography versus cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using the area-length method. Am J Cardiol 106:1345–1350
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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Italia
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Tritapepe, L., Pompei, F., Giovanni, C.D. (2013). Left and Right Atria. In: Sarti, A., Lorini, F. (eds) Echocardiography for Intensivists. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2583-7_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2583-7_8
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Publisher Name: Springer, Milano
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