[Thoracoscopic Left Atrial Appendectomy for a Patient with Thrombus in the Left Atrial Appendage after Anticoagulation Therapy;Report of a Case].
Thoracoscopic left atrial appendectomy for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation has been suggested as a new approach for preventing cardiogenic thromboembolism. While this procedure is effective in patients who suffer from thromboembolism even with anticoagulation therapy, it is contraindicated in patients with an existing left atrial appendage thrombus. We herein report a case of 61-yearold female with atrial fibrillation and recurrent cardiogenic thromboembolism. Left atrial appendage thrombus had been detected even under anticoagulation therapy. We decided to strengthen anticoagulation therapy and successfully resolved the left atrial appendage thrombus. Thus, thoracoscopic left atrial appendectomy was performed safely, and thromboembolism has never occurred since the operation.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tsukuba Memorial Hospital, Tsukuba, Japan.
Takafumi
T
Inoue
Akihiro
A
Yoshimoto
Masayuki
M
Fujisaki
Sei
S
Morizumi
Toshiya
T
Ohtsuka
Yoshihiro
Y
Suematsu
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001062:Appendectomy; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin