title: Left atrial appendage morphology, echocardiographic characterization, procedural data and in-hospital outcome of patients receiving left atrial appendage occlusion device implantation: a prospective observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Implantation of left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion devices was shown to be a feasible and effective alternative to oral anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. However, only few data about in-hospital and peri-procedural data are currently available. This study aims to report about echocardiographic, procedural and in-hospital data of patients receiving LAA occlusion devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  This single-center, prospective and observational study includes consecutively patients being eligible for percutaneous implantation of LAA occlusion devices (either Watchman™ or Amplatzer™ Cardiac Plug 2). Data on pre- and peri-procedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), implantation and procedure related in-hospital complications were collected. The primary efficacy outcome measure was a successful device implantation without relevant peri-device leaks (i.e., < 5 mm).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 37 patients were included, 22 receiving the Watchman™ and 15 ACP 2 device. Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly in both patient groups. The primary efficacy outcome measure was reached in 91.9% of patients (90.9% for the Watchman™, 93.3 % for the ACP 2 group). One device embolization (Watchman™ group) with successful retrieval occurred (2.7% of patients). No thromboembolism or device thrombosis were present. The majority of bleedings was caused by access site bleedings (88.3% of all bleedings), consisting mostly of mild hematomas corresponding to a BARC type 1 bleeding (80.0% of all access-site complications). One patient died due to septic shock (non-procedure related).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In daily real-life practice, percutaneous treatment with LAA occlusion devices appears to be an effective and safe.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany. christian.fastner@umm.de.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fastner
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behnes
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sartorius
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Istanbul University Cardiology Institute, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Clinic II, Helios Vogtland Klinikum Plauen, Academic Teaching Hospital of Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Kambis
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mashayekhi
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: El-Battrawy
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borggrefe
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D055989:Septal Occluder Device; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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