LEFT ATRIAL ENLARGEMENT

Course overview

LEFT ATRIAL ENLARGEMENT (LAE) IS AN ANATOMIC VARIATION OF THE LEFT ATRIA AND IS A RESULT OF INCREASED LEFT ATRIAL PRESSURE FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD. LEFT ATRIAL SIZE HAS PROGNOSTIC IMPLICATIONS, AND STUDIES REVEAL THAT LAE CAN INDEPENDENTLY PREDICT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AND HEART FAILURE. UNDERLYING PATHOLOGIES LEADING TO LAE MUST BE EXPLORED IN A TIMELY FASHION TO AVOID LIFE FATAL CONSEQUENCES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF LAE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.