Left atrial enlargement electrocardiogram
| Left atrial enlargement electrocardiogram | ||
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| eMedicine | med/ | |
| MeSH | [1] | |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]
Overview
Left atrial enlargement may be observed among patients with pressure or volume overload of the left atrium.
Differential Diagnosis of Left Atrial Enlargement
- Atrial aneurysm
- Infective endocarditis
- Left heart failure
- Mitral regurgitation
- Mitral stenosis
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Myxedema
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Ventricular septal defect
EKG in Left Atrial Enlargement
- Criteria for left atrial enlargement. Either;
- P wave with a broad (>0.04 sec or 1 small square) and deeply negative (>1 mm) terminal part in V1
- P wave duration >0.12 sec in leads I and / or II
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Left atrial enlargement -
12 lead EKG: Left atrial enlargement
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Left atrial enlargement as seen in lead V1. -
Left atrial enlargement, a 12 lead ECG
Chest X-ray in Left Atrial Enlargement
In general;
- Double density sign: Occur when the right side of the left atrium pushes into the adjacent lung.
- Convex left atria appendage: usually reflect prior rheumatic heart disease
- Splaying of the carina
- Posterior displacement of the left main stem bronchus on lateral radiograph
- Superior displacement of the left main stem bronchus on frontal view
- Posterior displacement of a barium filled esophagus
Images shown below are courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted.
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Double density sign -
Same patient & the same image. Double density sign. Image's modified for more contrast and better visualization.
