scholarly journals Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: A View From the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-87
Author(s):  
Wern Yew Ding ◽  
Dhiraj Gupta ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Oral Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
The Past ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Uk

AF is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events, which is usually managed with oral anticoagulation therapy. However, despite a broad range of anticoagulant options and improved uptake in anticoagulation over the past decade, there are some limitations to this approach. Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion has been shown to be an effective alternative in this setting, and population data suggest a clear demand for this procedure. Over the past decade, several important changes to the commissioning and delivery of this service have occurred in the UK. In this article, the authors describe the use of percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in the UK and discuss the challenges that lie ahead.

scholarly journals Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial to evaluate the effect of ASPIRIN discontinuation after left atrial appendage occlusion in atrial fibrillation: protocol of the ASPIRIN LAAO trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e044695
Author(s):  
Mu Chen ◽  
Qunshan Wang ◽  
Jian Sun ◽  
Peng-Pai Zhang ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Ethics Committee ◽  
Aspirin Therapy ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion ◽  
Increased Risk

IntroductionIt is the common clinical practice to prescribe indefinite aspirin for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) post left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). However, aspirin as a primary prevention strategy for cardiovascular diseases has recently been challenged due to increased risk of bleeding. Therefore, aspirin discontinuation after LAAO in atrial fibrillation (ASPIRIN LAAO) trial is designed to assess the uncertainty about the risks and benefits of discontinuing aspirin therapy at 6 months postimplantation with a Watchman LAAO device in NVAF patients.Methods and analysisThe ASPIRIN LAAO study is a prospective, multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled non-inferiority trial. Patients implanted with a Watchman device within 6 months prior to enrollment and without pre-existing conditions requiring long-term aspirin therapy according to current guidelines are eligible for participating the trial. Subjects will be randomised in a 1:1 allocation ratio to either the Aspirin group (aspirin 100 mg/day) or the control group (placebo) at 6 months postimplantation. A total of 1120 subjects will be enrolled from 12 investigational sites in China. The primary composite endpoint is stroke, systemic embolism, cardiovascular/unexplained death, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and coronary or periphery artery disease requiring revascularisation at 24 months. Follow-up visits are scheduled at 6 and 12 months and then every 12 months until 24 months after the last patient recruitment.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, China (reference number XHEC-C-2018-065-5). The protocol is also submitted and approved by the institutional Ethics Committee at each participating centre. Results are expected in 2024 and will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international conferences.Trial registration numberNCT03821883.

Comparative data on left atrial appendage occlusion efficacy and clinical outcomes by age group in the Amplatzer™ Amulet™ Occluder Observational Study

EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Freixa ◽  
Boris Schmidt ◽  
Patrizio Mazzone ◽  
Sergio Berti ◽  
Sven Fischer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Ischaemic Stroke ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Serious Adverse Events ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Aims Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may be considered for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and a relative/formal contraindication to anticoagulation. This study aimed to summarize the impact of aging on LAAO outcomes at short and long-term follow-up. Methods and results We compared subjects aged <70, ≥70 and <80, and ≥80 years old in the prospective, multicentre Amplatzer™ Amulet™ Occluder Observational Study (Abbott, Plymouth, MN, USA). Serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported from implant through a 2-year post-LAAO visit and adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee. Overall, 1088 subjects were prospectively enrolled. There were 265 subjects (24.4%) <70 years old, 491 subjects (45.1%) ≥70 and <80 years old, and 332 subjects (30.5%) ≥80 years old, with the majority (≥80%) being contraindicated to anticoagulation. As expected, CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED Scores increased with age. Implant success was high (≥98.5%) across all groups, and the proportion of subjects with a procedure- or device-related SAE was similar between groups. At follow-up, the observed ischaemic stroke rate was not significantly different between groups, and corresponding risk reductions were 62, 56, and 85% when compared with predicted rates for subjects <70, ≥70 and <80, and ≥80 years old, respectively. Major bleeding and mortality rates increased with age, while the incidence of device-related thrombus tended to increase with age. Conclusions Despite the increased risk for ischaemic stroke with increasing age in AF patients, LAAO reduced the risk for ischaemic stroke compared with the predicted rate across all age groups without differences in procedural SAEs.

scholarly journals Left Atrial Appendage: Physiology, Pathology, and Role as a Therapeutic Target

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damiano Regazzoli ◽  
Francesco Ancona ◽  
Nicola Trevisi ◽  
Fabrizio Guarracini ◽  
Andrea Radinovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Blood Stasis ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion ◽  
Poor Patient Compliance ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Variable Morphology

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically relevant cardiac arrhythmia. AF poses patients at increased risk of thromboembolism, in particular ischemic stroke. The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores are useful in the assessment of thromboembolic risk in nonvalvular AF and are utilized in decision-making about treatment with oral anticoagulation (OAC). However, OAC is underutilized due to poor patient compliance and contraindications, especially major bleedings. The Virchow triad synthesizes the pathogenesis of thrombogenesis in AF: endocardial dysfunction, abnormal blood stasis, and altered hemostasis. This is especially prominent in the left atrial appendage (LAA), where the low flow reaches its minimum. The LAA is the remnant of the embryonic left atrium, with a complex and variable morphology predisposing to stasis, especially during AF. In patients with nonvalvular AF, 90% of thrombi are located in the LAA. So, left atrial appendage occlusion could be an interesting and effective procedure in thromboembolism prevention in AF. After exclusion of LAA as an embolic source, the remaining risk of thromboembolism does not longer justify the use of oral anticoagulants. Various surgical and catheter-based methods have been developed to exclude the LAA. This paper reviews the physiological and pathophysiological role of the LAA and catheter-based methods of LAA exclusion.

scholarly journals ACHIEVING LOW RADIATION EXPOSURE AND CONTRAST USAGE WITHOUT COMPROMISING SAFETY AND EFFICACY DURING WATCHMAN LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE OCCLUSION DEVICE IMPLANT

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 6-11
Author(s):  
J. А. Reiss ◽  
D. A. Evans
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Closure Device ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion ◽  
Occlusion Device ◽  
Over Time

The study demonstrates the safety, feasibility and effectiveness of a comprehensive approach to minimize fluoroscopy and contrast use during Watchman left atrial closure device implantation.Background. The introduction of Watchman left atrial appendage occlusion device (WM) has provided an effective alternative to anticoagulation for patients with a high risk of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and high risk of bleeding and who are unable to take long-term anticoagulation therapy. Since its introduction, WM has been implanted more than 50,000 times worldwide. While the implant procedure is relatively safe, it involves the use of fluoroscopy and contrast and, as such, poses some associated risk to patient safety. The adoption of procedural techniques which reduce fluoroscopy exposure and contrast use have the potential to provide clinical patient benefit without compromising safety or efficacy. Aim To demonstrate that WM implant can be performed with minimal exposure to both ionizing radiation and IV contrast without compromising safety or efficacy.Methods. A retrospective chart review of all 75 consecutive Watchman implantations by a single operator at a single center between December 2015 and December 2017. Every effort to optimize the WM implant procedure and minimize radiation and contrast exposure was incorporated as implant techniques evolved. Contrast and radiation exposure data were collected and analyzed year-over-year.Results. Charts from 75 consecutive cases were reviewed with all cases at index procedure (100%), and included the majority of patients presenting in paroxysmal AF (63%). Baseline patient characteristics were consistent across years. Procedural characteristics also were consistent over time. The median absorbed radiation dose was low (75 mGy in 2015) and did not change significantly over time. Similarly, the median fluoroscopy time used after the initial case was low (2.8 minutes) and did not vary. 73 of 75 (97%) of procedures resulted in successful implantation. There were no procedural complications; notably, no cases resulted in stroke, death, pericardial effusion, vascular accidents or device embolization.Conclusion.The current generation of WM can be successfully implanted using low fluoroscopy and contrast without compromising safety or efficacy using the techniques described.

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