Possibilities of computed and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart in patients with ­atrial fibrillation

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Abstract

Computed and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart has been widely used in recent years in patients with atrial fibrillation. They are used to determine the morphology of the heart, the presence of intracardiac thrombi, quantify the structures of the heart, thrombosis of intracardiac devices, determine tactics for surgical interventions, and other purposes. These methods of instrumental diagnostics can be used as an alternative to transesophageal echocardiography, which has a number of limitations and disadvantages compared to computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Computed and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart are used to avoid invasiveness in the study of the heart, to improve the accuracy of measuring heart structures, to reduce the number of diagnostic methods used before various surgical interventions in patients with atrial fibrillation, and also, according to epidemic indications, as part of the prevention of the spread of coronavirus infection. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging allows to avoid radiation exposure to the patient. The review presents the results of studies, meta-analyses of pooled samples, as well as a description of the clinical possibilities of computed and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart in patients with atrial fibrillation. Publications on the use of these methods for visualization of thrombi in the left atrium and its appendage, in pulmonary vein ablation and occlusion of the left atrial appendage, as well as data on visualization of the residual flow around the occlusive device and thrombosis of intracardiac devices are presented. According to the results of a literature review, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart have similar or higher imaging capabilities compared to transesophageal echocardiography, as well as some advantages over it, primarily the non-invasiveness of the procedure. The works demonstrating the possibilities of computed tomography of the heart for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease in patients with atrial fibrillation are presented. In preparing the review, the literature search method in PubMed databases for the period 2013–2022 was used.

About the authors

Genshat S. Galyautdinov

Kazan State Medical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: galgen077@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7403-0200

M.D., D. Sci. (Med.), Prof., Depart. of Hospital Therapy, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

Russian Federation, Kazan, Russia

Karina R. Ibragimova

Interdistrict multidisciplinary hospital of Almetyevsk

Email: skmalina@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5300-0635

Clinical pharmacologist

Russian Federation, Almetyevsk, Russia

Shamilya Sh. Galeeva

Kazan State Medical University

Email: g.s.0101@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8654-1112

Resident, Depart. of Hospital Therapy

Russian Federation, Kazan, Russia

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