For continuous variables **data** are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (25 th -75 th percentiles) values. Dichotomous variables are presented as absolute values and frequencies. To verify the normality of **data** distribution we used D'Agostino-Pearson test. Differences in continuous parameters between groups with and without LAAT were investigated using Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples according to the normality of distribution. For dichotomous **data** we applied Fisher's exact test or χ 2 test depending on sample size. We used Pearson's coefficient to assess the correlations between particular parameters. Kappa statistics were used to determine the intraobserver and interobserver concordance in the assessment of particular STE measurements.