Project description:Objectives: Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in the left atrium (LA) is frequently observed in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients and may lead to thromboembolic events. We aimed to investigate both periprocedural and long-term stroke risks associated with LA SEC in AF patients undergoing percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). Methods: A total of 408 consecutive AF patients treated with LAAC between March 2015 and February 2019 were divided into two groups based on preprocedural transesophageal echocardiography: the study group (moderate/severe LA SEC; n = 41) and the control group (none, mild, or mild to moderate LA SEC; n = 367). To attenuate the observed imbalance in baseline covariates, a propensity score matching technique was used. Results: No periprocedural stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) was documented. The incidence of device-related thrombus was higher in the study group than in the control group (8.8 vs. 1.3%; P = 0.025). The mean follow-up period was 3.2 ± 1.1 years, during which 8 patients (2.2%) in the control group and 4 (9.8%) in the study group experienced stroke/TIA (P = 0.024). Moderate/severe LA SEC was identified as an independent predictor of stroke/TIA in both the original population (HR = 5.71, 95% CI 1.47-22.19, P = 0.012) and the matched population (HR = 9.79, 95% CI 1.44-66.86, P = 0.020). Conclusions: LA SEC did not show a relationship with periprocedural stroke events in patients undergoing percutaneous LAAC. However, moderate/severe LA SEC increased the incidence of device-related thrombus and the risk of late stroke/TIA.
Project description:BackgroundThe left atrial appendage (LAA) is known to be the primary source of thrombus formation in atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigate whether epicardial LAA occlusion (LAAO) from the cardiovascular system has an effect on coagulation and prothrombotic status in AF.MethodsTwenty-two patients with nonvalvular AF, who were not currently receiving oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy, participated in a single-center prospective study. We measured fibrinogen and plasminogen levels along with plasma fibrin clot permeability, clot lysis time (CLT) and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) before the LAAO procedure, at discharge and 1 month afterward.ResultsOne month after the LAAO procedure, plasma fibrin clot permeability improved by 39.3% as measured by clots prepared from peripheral blood (P=0.019) and also after adjustment for fibrinogen (P=0.027). Higher plasma fibrin clot permeability was associated with improved clot susceptibility to lysis (r=-0.67, P=0.013). CLT was reduced by 10.3% (P=0.0020), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen levels were reduced by 52% (P=0.023) and plasminogen activity was increased by 8.9% (P=0.0077). A trend toward decreased thrombin generation, reflected by a decreased ETP and peak thrombin generated was also observed 1 month after LAAO procedure (P=0.072 and P=0.087, respectively). No differences were observed in tissue-type plasminogen activator and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor plasma levels (both P>0.05).ConclusionsObtained results seem to confirm that LAA plays a key role in thrombogenesis. Elimination of LAA from the circulatory system may improve fibrin clot permeability and susceptibility to fibrinolysis in peripheral blood.
Project description:ObjectivesWe demonstrate the feasibility and safety of robotics-assisted left atrial appendage clip exclusion in clinical practice.MethodsAnalysis of a single center robotics-assisted left atrial appendage clip exclusion experience using an epicardial linear clip device in patients with atrial fibrillation with high-risk of thromboembolic stroke and intolerance to oral anticoagulants.ResultsDuring the period from December 2017 to September 2020, we performed 42 robotics-assisted left atrial appendage clip exclusions in response to increased risk of bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation and intolerance to oral anticoagulants. The average congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, stroke, and vascular disease score was 5.2 ± 1.6 and hypertension, abnormal liver or kidney function, stroke, bleeding, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs (aspirin, other antiplatelets, or anticoagulants) score was 4.5 ± 0.9. No patients died intraoperatively or within 30 days, or due to conversion to thoracotomy, intraoperative complications, or failure to apply the clip satisfactorily. The procedure was successfully completed despite pericardial adhesions in 2 patients with prior coronary bypass grafts and 3 with postpericarditis scars. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 38 out of 42 patients; satisfactory exclusion with left atrial appendage stump <5 mm was confirmed in all. Average length of stay was 3.4 ± 3 days with 12 out of 42 patients discharged within 24 hours. Oral anticoagulants were discontinued in 41 out of 42 patients and no cases of 30-day stroke, myocardial ischemia, or new arrhythmias were observed. One case of hemothorax required thoracoscopy a day later. There was no reported thromboembolic stroke or transient ischemic attack at 12 months. One case of late lacunar stroke was due to in situ small intracranial vessel thrombosis without left atrial appendage thrombus on imaging.ConclusionsRobotics-assisted left atrial appendage clip exclusion is a safe and feasible minimally invasive method for left atrial appendage management in patients with atrial fibrillation with intolerance to oral anticoagulants and increased risk of thromboembolic stroke.
Project description:BackgroundPericardial effusion is a common complication of percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure. Acute management is the cornerstone of pericardial effusion treatment and interrupting the intervention is often required.Case summaryA 65-year-old man presented an acute 10 mm pericardial effusion following pigtail contrast appendage injection. A rapid Watchman Flex 24 mm (Boston Scientific) deployment permitted bleeding interruption. A needle pericardiocentesis was achieved in order to prevent any haemodynamical instability.DiscussionThis case report describes an atypical cause of pericardial effusion and a technique for bleeding control with LAA closure device deployment.
Project description:Whereas the left atrial appendage plays a rather minor role under physiological circumstances, it gains an importance in patients with atrial fibrillation. Compelling evidence has revealed that the left atrial appendage is implicated as the source of thrombus in the vast majority of strokes in atrial fibrillation. Oral anticoagulation remains the standard of care for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation; nevertheless, this treatment has several limitations and is often contraindicated, particularly in the elderly population in whom the risk of stroke is high. Therefore, occluding the left atrial appendage is a logical approach to prevent thrombus formation and subsequent cardioembolic events in these patients. We present a review of clinical outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing left atrial appendage closure and the challenges faced in this field.
Project description:Left atrial appendage closure has emerged as a feasible stroke prevention strategy in selected patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Since its commercial approval in the United States in 2015, the use of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure has witnessed a substantial growth. However, certain issues remain unresolved with the technology. Knowledge of these issues, their significance, and the current and future efforts to resolve them is key for proper informed decision making by physicians and patients.
Project description:BackgroundLeft atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is considered a valid alternative for the prevention of thromboembolic stroke in patients with persistent left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) despite adequate anticoagulation. However, the data on LAAC using the LAmbre device for patients with LAAT is limited. This study was performed to explore efficacy and safety as well as to share the experience of the modified LAAC procedure with the LAmbre device.Materials and methodsA total of 7 patients with persistent LAAT despite adequate anticoagulation underwent modified LAAC with the LAmbre device between November 2019 and April 2022. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed 3 months postoperatively to detect device-related thrombosis and peridevice leak. The patients' clinical events were evaluated during the perioperative and follow-up periods.ResultsThe median age, CHA2DS2-VASc score, and HAS-BLED score of all patients were 71 [53-73], 3 [2-4], and 2 [2-3], respectively. In the procedure, a cerebral protection system was used in two patients. LAAC with the LAmbre device was successfully performed in all patients without perioperative events. During the median follow-up of 383 [325-865] days, postoperative transesophageal echocardiography was performed in six (85.7%) patients. Device-related thrombosis was detected in one (16.7%) patient, and no significant peridevice leak was observed. No thromboembolic event or bleeding event occurred in any patients.ConclusionLAAC with the LAmbre device is effective and safe when performed by experienced operators in highly selected patients with LAAT after adequate anticoagulation.
Project description:BackgroundPatients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are not suitable for long-term anticoagulant therapy undergo percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). The safety and feasibility of left atrial catheter ablation (CA) procedures after LAAC remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the feasibility and safety of CA after LAAC, including in the early phase within 180 days.MethodsCharacteristics and clinical outcomes of 46 patients with AF who had undergone both CA and LAAC within 2 years (mean age, 72 years; 29 men) were compared between those who had undergone CA-first (31 patients) and LAAC-first (15 patients).ResultsThe mean CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 4.8 and 3.3 points, respectively. The LAAC-first strategy was often used in patients with prior major bleeding and LAA thrombosis or sludge. In the LAAC-first group, the mean duration between both procedures was 212 days, and all LAAC-first patients, including seven patients in the early phase, could undergo CA without LAAC device-related complications; moreover, no cardiovascular adverse events were reported after both procedures (mean periods: 420 days). After CA post-LAAC, no device-related adverse events (device-related thrombosis, new peri-device leak appearance, peri-device leak increase, or device dislodgement) were observed, whereas, after LAAC post-CA, 3 new peri-device leak appearance events and 1 peri-device leak increase event were observed, especially patients who underwent LAAC in the early phase post-CA.ConclusionBased on single-center experience, left atrial CA in the presence of an LAAC device implanted including the early phase was safe and feasible.
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.