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

PURPOSE: 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.

METHODS: We studied 49 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, submitted to clinical examination, EKG, chest X-ray, and TEE.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: Embolic phenomena are inherent to atrial fibrillation and independent of structural cardiopathies, with indication to prophylactic use of oral anticoagulants.