Project description:BackgroundAccumulated clinical studies utilized intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) to guide percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). However, its procedural success and safety compared to traditional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) remained elusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to compare efficacy and safety of ICE and TEE for LAAO.MethodsWe screened studies from four online databases (including the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science) from their inception to 1 December 2022. We used a random or fixed-effect model to synthesize the clinical outcomes and conducted a subgroup analysis to identify the potential confounding factors.ResultsA total of twenty eligible studies with 3,610 atrial fibrillation (AF) patients (1,564 patients for ICE and 2,046 patients for TEE) were enrolled. Compared with TEE group, there was no significant difference in procedural success rate [risk ratio (RR) = 1.01; P = 0.171], total procedural time [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -5.58; P = 0.292], contrast volume (WMD = -2.61; P = 0.595), fluoroscopic time (WMD = -0.34; P = 0.705; I2 = 82.80%), procedural complications (RR = 0.82; P = 0.261), and long-term adverse events (RR = 0.86; P = 0.329) in the ICE group. Subgroup analysis revealed that ICE group might be associated with the reduction of contrast use and fluoroscopic time in the hypertension proportion <90 subgroup, with lower total procedure time, contrast volume, and the fluoroscopic time in device type subgroup with multi-seal mechanism, and with the lower contrast use in paroxysmal AF (PAF) proportion ≤50 subgroup. Whereas, ICE group might increase the total procedure time in PAF proportion >50 subgroup and contrast use in multi-center subgroup, respectively.ConclusionOur study suggests that ICE may have comparable efficacy and safety compared to TEE for LAAO.
Project description:BackgroundIntracardiac echocardiography (ICE)-guided left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is increasingly common. Patients with previous atrial septal defect closure constitute a significant challenge for transseptal access.Case summaryA 49-year-old man with persistent atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and reduced left ventricular function was considered for LAAO after a life-threatening intrathoracic bleeding while on oral anticoagulation. Percutaneous atrial septal defect closure was performed 15 years before with a 34 mm Amplatzer Septal Occluder. Preprocedural cardiac computed tomography demonstrated the atrial septal occluder device with a small native interatrial septum at the inferior margin. The left atrial appendage landing zone measured 17 × 22 mm. The LAAO was performed under local analgesia. A steerable sheath was used to guide the transseptal puncture, and the ICE probe was traced along a guidewire across the atrial septum. A 12-F Amulet delivery sheath was advanced through the same transseptal hole. Under ICE and fluoroscopy guidance, a 25 mm Amplatzer Amulet was deployed. Follow-up imaging showed a well-positioned device with a small peridevice leak at the disc.DiscussionThis case report illustrates the feasibility of LAAO performed with ICE guidance from the left atrium in a patient with a large Amplatzer Septal Occluder with a small native interatrial septum. It demonstrates that prior atrial septal defect closure should not be considered as a contraindication for LAAO but warrants careful preprocedural planning.
Project description:Prevention of stroke represents a goal of primary importance in health systems due to its associated morbidity and mortality. As several patient groups with increased stroke rates have been identified, multiple approaches have been developed and implemented: oral anticoagulation (OAC) for patients with atrial fibrillation, surgical and percutaneous revascularisation in patients with carotid disease, device closure for patients with patent foramen ovale, and now, left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) for selected patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The latter group of patients are the focus of this review which evaluates the pathophysiology, selection of patients, procedural performance, outcomes of treatment both during and post-procedure, adjunctive therapy, complications, and longer-term outcomes.
Project description:BackgroundImaging guidance for left atrial appendage (LAA) closure (LAAC) conventionally consists of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and fluoroscopy under general anesthesia (GA). Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) can eliminate the need for GA, expedite procedural logistics, and reduce the patient experience to a simple venous puncture.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to define optimal ICE views and compare procedural parameters and cost of ICE vs TEE during LAAC with the Watchman device.MethodsOptimal ICE views of the LAA for Watchman implant were delineated using Carto-Sound and 3-dimensional rendition of the LAA in 6 patients. Procedural and financial parameters of 104 consecutive patients with standard indications for LAAC undergoing Watchman implant using ICE guidance through a single transseptal puncture (n = 53 [51%]) were compared with those of TEE-guided implants (n = 51 [49%]) in 3 centers.ResultsClinical characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Total in-room, turnaround, and fluoroscopy times all were shorter using ICE (P <.05) under local anesthesia compared to the TEE group. Implant success was 100% in both groups without peri-device leaks or procedural complications. Follow-up TEE showed no significant peri-device leak in both groups. Total hospital charges for ICE with local anesthesia vs TEE were similar, as were total hospital direct and indirect costs. Professional fees were significantly lower with ICE and local anesthesia than with TEE because the charge of anesthesia staff was avoided.ConclusionICE-guided Watchman implant is safe, feasible, and comparable in cost to TEE during LAAC with a Watchman device but avoids GA and expedites procedure turnaround.
Project description:BackgroundLeft atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is usually performed under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Data on the safety of intracardiac echocardiogram (ICE)-guided LAAC from a real-world population in the United States remain limited. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the trends and outcomes of ICE-guided LAAC procedures using the US National Inpatient Sample.MethodsThis study used the National Inpatient Sample database from quarter 4 of 2015 to 2019. We used a propensity-matched analysis and adjusted odds ratios for in-hospital outcomes/complications. A P value of <.05 was considered significant.ResultsWe identified 61,995 weighted LAAC cases. Of these, 1410 patients had ICE-guided LAAC with a lower median age than the patients who had TEE-guided LAAC (75 vs 77 years; P ≤ .01). The use of ICE-guided LAAC increased from 1.7% in 2015 to 2.2% in 2019 (P trend = .75). Major, cardiovascular, neurologic, and pulmonary complications were similar for ICE-guided and TEE-guided LAAC on adjusted analysis. On propensity-matched analysis, the overall vascular complication rates were similar. However, retroperitoneal bleeding remained significantly higher (0.7% vs 0%) with ICE. Gastrointestinal bleeding complications were more frequent in TEE-guided LAAC (3.5% vs 2.1%). The length of stay was similar for both groups (median = 1 day; P = .23); however, ICE was associated with $1769 excess cost of hospitalization ($25,112 vs $23,343; P = .04).ConclusionsICE-guided LAAC is safer than TEE-guided LAAC, with similar rates of major complications. However, ICE use was associated with lower rates of gastrointestinal bleeding and higher rates of retroperitoneal bleeding. In addition, ICE-guided LAAC is associated with a similar length of stay but higher costs of hospitalization.
Project description:IntroductionLeft atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation is usually detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) can be a suitable alternative to detect thrombosis. However, the effectiveness of the two methods for detecting LAA thrombus is still unclear, we performed a meta-analysis that compared ICE versus TEE for LAA thrombosis.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase for published abstracts and manuscripts on June 1, 2020. The analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3, STATA 15, and Meta-Disc 1.4.ResultsEight studies consists of 1108 patients (TEE = 558 vs. ICE = 550) were included. The average sensitivity of ICE and TEE to diagnose LAA thrombus is 1.0 (95% CI: 0.91-1.00) versus 0.68 (95% CI: 0.49-0.83), and specificity of ICE and TEE to diagnosis of LAA thrombus is 1.0 (95% CI: 0.99-1.00) versus 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96-0.99). The AUC of ICE and TEE is 0.9846 (SEAUC = 0.0196) and 0.9655 (SEAUC = 0.0401), and the Q* statistics is 0.9462 (SEQ* = 0.0406) and 0.9127 (SEQ * = 0.0616), respectively. Z test was performed on Q* statistics (Z = 0.45, p > .05).ConclusionThe ICE and TEE have similar diagnostic efficacy for LAA thrombosis, but the ICE has higher sensitivity. Compared with TEE, ICE may be more advantages and prospects for clinical application.
Project description:Abstract Background Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) can be an alternative to oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, characterized by high risk of stroke (CHA2D2VASC ≥ two for men and CHA2D2VA2SC ≥ three for women) and high risk of bleeding (HASBLED = 3). Case summary We describe three case reports in which an intracardiac echocardiography probe was used via the oesophageal route as an alternative to traditional transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or ICE methods to guide LAAC. Guiding the procedure via conventional TEE, even if feasible, could be difficult in these patients due to different causes: one patient was affected by Brugada syndrome while the other two patients reported oropharyngeal abnormalities. For these reasons, we performed an alternative use of the ICE probe to guide the entire LAAC procedure. Discussion Currently, LAAC is performed using intracardiac or transoesophageal echocardiography. This alternative use of ICE probe via oesophageal (ICE-TEE) is reported in previous studies that describe the feasibility of this technique both in excluding the presence of thrombus in left atrial appendage before cardioversion and in guiding percutaneous foramen ovale closure. Therefore, the ICE probe has been used as an intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiographic probe to repair congenital heart disease in infants or children with oropharyngeal abnormalities. This case series reports the first use of ICE-TEE to guide the entire LAAC procedure, guaranteeing the visualization of all echocardiographic views needed to perform it. The present case series highlights the potential of ICE-TEE to safely perform both pre-procedural and intraoperative evaluations in LAAC procedure.