Frequency of left atrial thrombus in patients of mitral stenosis with atrial fibrillation

Objective: To determine the frequency of left atrial thrombus in patients withmitral stenosis having atrial fibrillation. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at Bolan MedicalCollege and Sandeman Teaching Hospital, Quetta. from 17 February 2015 to2016. Both male and female patients between 25 to 70 years with moderate to severe mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation were included while patients with mitral stenosis and normal sinus rhythm, mitral regurgitation, congestive heart failure, significant aortic value or coronary artery disease were excluded. Results: In this study a total of 110 patients with mean age of 45+-2.16 years were included with 35 percent patients were males. About 22 percent patients were hypertensive and 80 percent patients were non hypertensive, 27 percent were diabetics. About 70 percent patients had BMI <30 while 30 percent patients had BMI > 30, 28 percent patients had moderate mitral stenosis and 72 percent patients had severe mitral stenosis with left atrial thrombus in 27 percent patients. Conclusion: Our study shows that patients with AF have raised risk of atrial thrombus. Therefore proper screening for thrombus is needed in patients with AFso that in time anti coagualtion can be done. (author)