Retrieval of embolized left atrial appendage devices.
Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is gaining interest as an alternative option for prevention of strokes in patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF), especially for those with contraindications to anticoagulation. Complications from these procedures are well described in the medical literature. LAA closures may lead to pericardial effusion, device-associated thrombus, and device embolization. Understanding the reasons for embolization, strategies to avoid embolization, and the techniques for retrieval of LAA devices (ACP/AMULET and WATCHMAN) should be appreciated by endovascular implanters. We describe two cases of LAA device embolization that were both successfully retrieved percutaneously and other percutaneous techniques to safely retrieve embolized LAA devices. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Division of Cardiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Peter
P
Fahmy
Division of Cardiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Lim
L
Eng
Division of Cardiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Jacqueline
J
Saw
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000503:physiopathology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
closure; foreign body; percutaneous; structural