Left Atrial Imaging Prior to Cardioversion: Leveraging Computed Tomography to Rule Out Thrombus (LACLOT)
Atrial Fibrillation
About this trial
This is an interventional diagnostic trial for Atrial Fibrillation
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Admitted patients who require LA imaging prior to cardioversion
- Age ≥18 years old
- Able and willing to comply with the study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
- Indication for acute cardioversion (e.g. hemodynamic instability, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), or pulmonary edema)
- Unwillingness or inability to provide informed consent
Contraindication to Cardiac CT
- Severe renal insufficiency(GFR< 45ml/min)
- Allergy to intravenous contrast agents
- Contraindications to radiation exposure (for example, pregnancy)
- Inability to perform 20-second breath-hold
Contraindication to TEE
- Unrepaired tracheoesophageal fistula
- Esophageal obstruction or stricture
- Perforated hollow viscus
- Poor airway control
- Severe respiratory depression
- Uncooperative, unsedated patient
Sites / Locations
- University of Ottawa Heart InstituteRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Experimental
TEE arm
CCT arm
TEE will be performed as per clinical routine using multiple standard tomographic planes to rule-out LA/LAA thrombus. Echocardiographic analysis will include: LAA-emptying velocity, and grading the severity of LAA spontaneous ECHO. The severity of the SEC will be graded on a 4 point scale with 1 = minor homogeneous contrast enhancement, 2 = significant homogeneous contrast enhancement, 3 = significant, dense, and inhomogeneous, slow-moving contrast, and 4 = dense slow-moving contrast.
As per local protocol, a non-contrast enhanced prospective ECG-triggered image acquisition will be acquired. This will be followed by a contrast-enhanced prospective ECG-triggered will be acquired using a tri-phasic contrast protocols. Delayed CT images will be acquired 60 seconds after the initial contrast-enhanced CT scan.Cardiac CT image interpretation will be performed as per clinical routine. The LA and LAA will be assess for filling defects and characterized based upon attenuation values. If LA/LAA thrombus cannot be excluded, filling defects will be assessed on the delay images. Increases in attenuation would be consistent with pseudo-thrombus from 'slow flow' and 'incomplete opacification'. Areas where attenuation does not change significantly (persistent filling defect) will be diagnosed as thrombus. It will be recommended that patients with thrombus will undergo TEE.