Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41524066›Full record

SynthesisReviews in cardiovascular medicine2025

The Largest Systematic Review of Left Atrial Appendage Aneurysms: A Comprehensive Analysis of 216 Cases.

Klevis Mihali, Timo Mausinbaev, Julian Kreutz, Giulia Pasqualin, Massimo Chessa, Kevin Patrick Walsh, Colin Joseph Mcmahon, Pier Paolo Bassareo

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Reviews in cardiovascular medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Klevis MihaliDepartment of Cardiology, Angiology, and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1179-6265
Timo MausinbaevDepartment of Cardiology, Angiology, and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
Julian KreutzDepartment of Cardiology, Angiology, and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9498-9558
Giulia PasqualinAdult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3362-4501
Massimo ChessaAdult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7432-4815
Kevin Patrick WalshSchool of Medicine, University College of Dublin, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0635-5649
Colin Joseph McmahonSchool of Medicine, University College of Dublin, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0337-9338
Pier Paolo BassareoSchool of Medicine, University College of Dublin, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8374-0260

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) is a rare cardiac abnormality associated with thromboembolic events and arrhythmias. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of literature reports on the demographics, clinical presentation, electrocardiographic and imaging findings, treatment, and outcomes of patients with LAAA. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases through September 2025. Only case reports and series explicitly describing LAAA were included. Extracted data included age, sex, clinical symptoms, electrocardiogram (ECG) characteristics, imaging findings, associated cardiac abnormalities, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Results: A total of 216 cases were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 30.41 ± 22.39 years, with a slight predominance of males (50.5%). Symptoms included palpitations (32.4%), dyspnoea (17.2%), and thromboembolic events (7.8%). Atrial fibrillation and flutter were the most commonly detected arrhythmias. Echocardiography was the most frequently used initial diagnostic tool, with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) providing additional anatomical details. Chest X-rays often yielded non-specific findings. The mean aneurysm diameter was 6.87 ± 2.64 cm. Surgical treatment, mainly aneurysm resection, was the most commonly used approach (72.7%), while conservative and device-based therapies were applied selectively. Concomitant cardiac anomalies were present in 13.7% of cases and influenced case management. The mortality rate was 4.6%, although significant morbidity was observed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that atrial fibrillation/flutter was the sole variable significantly linked with clot formation/embolism ( Conclusion: LAAA is a rare, although clinically significant, entity with variable presentation and management challenges. However, early recognition and individualized treatment are essential. Further research is needed to define standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines.

Indexed as

arrhythmiacardiac imagingcardiac surgeryechocardiographyleft atrial appendage aneurysmthromboembolism

Identifiers

PMID41524066
PMCPMC12781024

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.