title: Transcatheter closure of the left atrial appendage: initial experience with the Amplatzer cardiac plug device.
abstract: Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure might reduce the cardioembolic risk in those patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who are not candidates for warfarin therapy. This report presents the case of two patients with atrial fibrillation who had contraindications for warfarin therapy due to bleeding complications and a high cardioembolic risk (CHADS2 > or =2) who underwent successful LAA closure with a new device, the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug. The characteristics of the device and the main technical aspects of the procedure, as well as the potential advantages of this device for LAA closure, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Quebec Heart & Lung Institute, Laval University, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec City, Québec, Canada. josep.rodes@criucpq.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodés-Cabau
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000075202:Contraindications; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006801:Humans; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055989:Septal Occluder Device; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014859:Warfarin