Question asked by Christine
Just had an echocardiogram done and one finding mentioned severe dilation of the left and right atrium. I received a pacemaker a year ago for atrial fibrillation. Does the dilation of the atrium have to do with the afib. Is this serious?
Answered by Dr. Brian Jaski
You pose a good question. Previous studies such as that by Dr. Psaty, “Incidence of and Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults”, have shown an increased risk for persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with increased left atrial size frequently resulting in worsening of symptoms. It is important to speak with your doctor about anticoagulation, Xa inhibitors, and/or direct thrombin inhibitors to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke.