scholarly journals Left atrial appendage thrombosis during therapy with rivaroxaban in elective cardioversion for permanent atrial fibrillation

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Serra ◽  
Mauro Li Calzi ◽  
Paolo Coruzzi
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Systolic Function ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Left Ventricular Systolic Function ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Permanent Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Increased Risk

Electric external cardioversion (EEC) for permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) carries a risk of thromboembolic events (TE). The use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to guide the management of atrial fibrillation may be considered a clinically effective alternative strategy to conventional therapy for patients in whom elective cardioversion is planned. Therapeutic anticoagulation with novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) is recommended for 3 to 4 weeks before and an anticoagulation life-long therapy is recommended after EEC to reduce TE, in patients with high CHA<sub>2</sub>DS<sub>2</sub>-VASc score; however, only few data are currently available about safety of shortterm anticoagulation with NOAC in the setting of EEC. Patients with increased risk of thromboembolism have not been adequately studied and the monitoring of anticoagulant effects can also have important benefits in case of drug interactions. We report a case of a 68-year old man with AF from September 2014. Moderate depression of global left ventricular systolic function was detected by echocardiographic exam. On the basis of a high thromboembolic risk, an anticoagulant therapy with rivaroxaban, at the dose of 20 mg/day, was started. TEE showed a thrombus in the left atrial appendage. This case demonstrates the utility of performing TEE prior than EEC in patients with hypokinetic cardiomyopathy other than AF in therapy with NOAC. We underline the presence of significant pharmacodynamic interference of rivaroxaban with other drugs such as oxcarbazepine.

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.

scholarly journals Left atrial appendage orifice area and morphology is closely associated with flow velocity in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Chen ◽  
Changjiang Xu ◽  
Wensu Chen ◽  
Chaoqun Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Mechanical Function ◽  
Orifice Area ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Thromboembolic events are the most serious complication of atrial fibrillation (AF), and the left atrial appendage (LAA) is the most important site of thrombosis in patients with AF. During the period of COVID-19, a non-invasive left atrial appendage detection method is particularly important in order to reduce the exposure of the virus. This study used CT three-dimensional reconstruction methods to explore the relationship between LAA morphology, LAA orifice area and its mechanical function in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Methods A total of 81 consecutive patients with NVAF (36 cases of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and 45 cases of persistent atrial fibrillation) who were planned to undergo catheter radiofrequency ablation were enrolled. All patients were examined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), TEE, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) before surgery. The LAA orifice area was obtained according to the images of CTA. According to the left atrial appendage morphology, it was divided into chicken wing type and non-chicken wing type. At the same time, TEE was performed to determine left atrial appendage flow velocity (LAAFV), and the relationship between the left atrial appendage orifice area and LAAFV was analyzed. Results The LAAFV in Non-chicken wing group was lower than that in Chicken wing group (36.2 ± 15.0 cm/s vs. 49.1 ± 22.0 cm/s, p-value < 0.05). In the subgroup analysis, the LAAFV in Non-chicken wing group was lower than that in Chicken wing group in the paroxysmal AF (44.0 ± 14.3 cm/s vs. 60.2 ± 22.8 cm/s, p-value < 0.05). In the persistent AF, similar results were observed (29.7 ± 12.4 cm/s vs. 40.8 ± 17.7 cm/s, p-value < 0.05). The LAAFV in persistent AF group was lower than that in paroxysmal AF group (34.6 ± 15.8 cm/s vs. 49.9 ± 20.0 cm/s, p-value < 0.001). The LAAFV was negatively correlated with left atrial dimension (R = − 0.451, p-value < 0.001), LAA orifice area (R= − 0.438, p-value < 0.001) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (R= − 0.624, p-value < 0.001), while it was positively correlated with LVEF (R = 0.271, p-value = 0.014). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that LAA morphology (β = − 0.335, p-value < 0.001), LAA orifice area (β = −  0.185, p-value = 0.033), AF type (β = − 0.167, p-value = 0.043) and LVMI (β = − 0.465, p-value < 0.001) were independent factors of LAAFV. Conclusions The LAA orifice area is closely related to the mechanical function of the LAA in patients with NVAF. The larger LAA orifice area and LVMI, Non-chicken wing LAA and persistent AF are independent predictors of decreased mechanical function of LAA, and these parameters might be helpful for better management of LA thrombosis.

scholarly journals Effect of the Alterations in Contractility and Morphology Produced by Atrial Fibrillation on the Thrombosis Potential of the Left Atrial Appendage

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danila Vella ◽  
Alessandra Monteleone ◽  
Giulio Musotto ◽  
Giorgia Maria Bosi ◽  
Gaetano Burriesci
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Left Atrium ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Shear Strain Rate ◽  
Increased Risk

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia mainly affecting the elderly population, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke, ischaemic attack and vascular dementia. These problems are caused by thrombi which mostly originate in the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small muscular sac protruding from left atrium. The abnormal heart rhythm associated with AF results in alterations in the heart muscle contractions and in some reshaping of the cardiac chambers. This study aims to verify if and how these physiological changes can establish hemodynamic conditions in the LAA promoting thrombus formation, by means of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses. In particular, sinus and fibrillation contractility was replicated by applying wall velocity/motion to models based on healthy and dilated idealized shapes of the left atrium with a common LAA morphology. The models were analyzed and compared in terms of shear strain rate (SSR) and vorticity, which are hemodynamic parameters directly associated with thrombogenicity. The study clearly indicates that the alterations in contractility and morphology associated with AF pathologies play a primary role in establishing hemodynamic conditions which promote higher incidence of ischaemic events, consistently with the clinical evidence. In particular, in the analyzed models, the impairment in contractility determined a decrease in SSR of about 50%, whilst the chamber pathological dilatation contributed to a 30% reduction, indicating increased risk of clot formation. The equivalent rigid wall model was characterized by SSR values about one order of magnitude smaller than in the contractile models, and substantially different vortical behavior, suggesting that analyses based on rigid chambers, although common in the literature, are inadequate to provide realistic results on the LAA hemodynamics.

scholarly journals Left Atrial Appendage Thrombus Prior to Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in the Era of Direct Oral Anticoagulants

2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 2715-2721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahide Harada ◽  
Masayuki Koshikawa ◽  
Yuji Motoike ◽  
Tomohide Ichikawa ◽  
Kunihiko Sugimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage Thrombus

Abstract 18516: Regional Dysfunction of Left Atrial Appendage and its Association with Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah A Alissa ◽  
Yuko Inoue ◽  
Jochen Cammin ◽  
Qiulin Tang ◽  
Elliot Fishman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Atrial Appendage ◽  
Atrial Appendage ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Area Change ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
Regional Dysfunction

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of cardioembolic stroke. Previous studies demonstrate that the Left atrial appendage (LAA) is the most common site of intracardiac thrombus, and the LAA morphology alone may determine the risk of stroke. We aimed to determine the association between LAA regional dysfunction using novel, noninvasive, image-based motion-estimation CT (iME) and prior history of stroke in patients with AF. Methods: Among the patients with history of AF referred for ablation who underwent pre-ablation CT with retrospective ECG gating, we identified 18 patients with a prior history of stroke or TIA, and 18 age- and gender-matched controls. The patients in AF at the time of CT were excluded. Four-dimensional motion vector field was estimated from reconstructed CT images using iME at every 5% RR interval. To assess myocardial deformation, area change ratio and area change rate were calculated over the endocardial surface of the LA and LAA. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were made by using binary logistic regression model. Results: A total of 36 patients (mean age 67.6 ± 8.1 years, 66.7% male, 16.7% persistent AF) were included in the study. Univariate analysis showed that the LA pre-atrial contraction area change ratio and LAA maximum area change ratio were significantly lower (P= 0.02 and 0.04, respectively) in the stroke/TIA group compared to the control group. These changes remained statistically significant in multivariate analysis (P=0.03 and 0.04, respectively) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, LV ejection fraction, type of AF, and CHADS score. Conclusions: LAA regional dysfunction is associated with stroke/TIA in patients with AF. LAA regional dysfunction detected by iME could represent a marker for stroke and a possible therapeutic target.

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