title: Does left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion device alter the echocardiography and electrocardiogram parameters in patients with atrial fibrillation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The alterations of echocardiography and electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients received left atrial appendage LAA occlusion therapy are still unclear. The present study was to evaluate the influence of LAA occlusion device on echocardiography and ECG changes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three patients who had undergone Watchman, LAmbre and Lefort were enrolled in this study. Echocardiography and ECG results at pre- and post-operation were collected. Besides, echocardiography was also performed during follow-up visits at 1, 6 and 12months after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After LAA occlusion, a slight and measureable movement of QRS electric axis was observed in most patients. The significant differences were also observed in heart rate (HR) and the mean-mean QT interval between pre- and post-operation for all patients. There existed no significant difference in echocardiographic parameters between before and after device implantation. However, a larger left atrial (LA) diameter was detected by echocardiography during follow-up visit at 6months when compared with pre-operation parameters. Similarly, aortic root diameter (ARD) was also larger during follow-up at 12months than the baseline dimension in pre-operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LAA occlusion device resulted in a slightly movement in QRS axis, reduced HR and increased the mean-mean QT interval duration. In addition, LA diameter and ARD seemed to be larger after device implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Qiqiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jie
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Dongzhi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Baoxin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Dongdong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Jiachen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Yawei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China. Electronic address: ywei@tongji.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yidong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000601:surgery*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Echocardiography; Electrocardiogram; Left atrial appendage occlusion