title: Thrombus formation after left atrial appendage exclusion using an Amplatzer cardiac plug device.
abstract: The feasibility and safety of left atrial appendage closure with the Amplatzer cardiac plug (AGA Medical Corp., Minneapolis, MN) have been recently published; no thrombus formation on the device surface has been reported previously. We describe a case of a 66-year-old man with permanent atrial fibrillation, previous stroke, and contraindication for long-term oral anticoagulant therapy. A 22-mm ACP device was deployed successfully without complications. The patient was discharged on acetyl salicylic acid 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg daily. After 4 weeks, the patient was admitted for a lower gastrointestinal bleeding and clopidogrel was stopped. A 3-month follow-up echocardiogram confirmed the exclusion of the LAA but it demonstrated the presence of a thrombus on the atrial surface of the device. It was decided to keep the patient on acetyl salicylic acid 100 mg with the addition of enoxaparin 60 mg bid. Transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated total resolution of the thrombus after 2 months.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain. cruzgonzalez.ignacio@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cruz-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martín Moreiras
authors.forename: Eulogio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D055989:Septal Occluder Device / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors