title: Initial experience with a novel percutaneous left atrial appendage exclusion device in patients with atrial fibrillation, increased stroke risk, and contraindications to anticoagulation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases by fivefold a patient's risk for thromboembolic stroke. The main source of emboli in AF is the left atrial appendage (LAA). Therefore, LAA closure could reduce the risk for thromboembolic events in AF. The investigators report the first United States experience with a novel percutaneous LAA closure device, the Lariat snare device, and its outcomes in 21 patients with AF, CHADS2 scores ≥2, and contraindications to anticoagulation. The LAA was closed with a snare containing suture from within the pericardial space. The intraoperative success of the procedure was confirmed by left atrial angiography and transesophageal echocardiographic color Doppler flow. The effectiveness of the procedure was evaluated by follow-up transesophageal echocardiography. The incidence of periprocedural and short-term complications was assessed by reviewing medical records. Twenty patients (100%) had successful LAA exclusion that was preserved at 96 ± 77 days. No patient had a stroke during an average of 352 ± 143 days of follow-up. One patient had right ventricular perforation and tamponade that required surgical exploration and repair. Two patients required prolonged hospitalization: 1 because of pericardial effusion that required repeat pericardiocentesis and 1 because of noncardiac co-morbidities. Three patients developed pericarditis <1 month after the procedure, of whom 1 had associated pericardial effusion that required drainage. In conclusion, percutaneous LAA exclusion can be achieved successfully and with an acceptable incidence of periprocedural and short-term complications. Further studies are needed to determine whether LAA exclusion lowers the long-term risk for thromboembolic events in patients with AF and contraindications to anticoagulation.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, TX, USA. amassumi@hgcardio.com
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Massumi
authors: Mihail Gabriel
authors: MG
authors: Chelu
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Nazeri
authors: Stephen Allen
authors: SA
authors: May
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Afshar-Kharaghan
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Saeed
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Razavi
authors: Abdi
authors: A
authors: Rasekh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015897:Comorbidity; D000075202:Contraindications; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants