title: Interventional approach to reduce thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation ineligible for oral anticoagulation.
abstract: The annual incidence of stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation averages 5% per year and increases with age, left ventricular dysfunction, hypertension, diabetes or prior stroke. Since in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation 91% of left atrial thrombi are located in the left atrial appendage, in patients ineligible for oral anticoagulation it was suggested the percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage as a therapeutic option to reduce embolic risk. In this article we report our initial experience with this procedure, which was uneventful and efficacious at short-term follow-up. In conclusion, the interventional approach in patients with atrial fibrillation ineligible for oral anticoagulation seems feasible and promising, and deserves further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Anesthesiology, "Egidio Meneghetti", University of Padua, Padua, Italy. aramondoit@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramondo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maiolino
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Napodano
authors.forename: Gianbattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Isabella
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarantini
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonato
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pengo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ponchia
authors.forename: Sabino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iliceto
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants