title: Left atrial appendage occlusion in octogenarians: short-term and 1-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the procedural safety, safety, and efficacy of left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion in octogenarians.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often do not receive appropriate anticoagulation. LAA occlusion is an option for patients with AF and contraindications to anticoagulation. Not much is known about the procedural safety and clinical efficacy of LAA occlusion in the very elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of LAA cases at our institution between 2002 and 2013 in patients 80 years of age or older was performed. Demographic, echocardiographic, procedural, and clinical follow-up data were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five cases were attempted in patients 80 years of age or older (average age 83.4 ± 2.8 years, 53.3% males). Hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure were present in 96, 41.3, and 36%, respectively. Mean CHADS2 and CHA2DS-VASc scores were 3.3 and 5.2. Devices used included the WATCHMAN, ACP, PLAATO, Lariat, and Coherex devices, which were attempted in 34.7, 36, 17.3, 5.3, and 5.3%, respectively. Overall procedural success, safety endpoint, and 1-year device efficacy was 90.1, 3.9, and 97.4%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LAA closure is a safe and efficacious method of stroke prevention in the very elderly with AF.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gafoor
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertog
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heuer
authors.forename: Maik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzaga
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Annkathrin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braut
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vaskelyte
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sievert
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: COMP - Complications adult cath/intervention; LAC - Left Atrial Appendage Closure; PERI - Pericardial