AIMS: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may be considered for stroke prophylaxis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Data on device implantation safety and feasibility and long-term follow-up are limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: LAAO was performed using the AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug (ACP) device in 134 NVAF patients with long-term OAC contraindication, with median (interquartile range) CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores of four (3-5) and three (2-3.75), respectively. Follow-up data were collected over a mean follow-up period of 680 days (range: 42 days to 4.3 years) comprising a total implant experience of 238 patient-years. Device implantation was successful in 95.5% of the procedures and associated with a rate of major procedural complications of 2.2%. At the most recent follow-up, almost all patients were receiving antiplatelet therapy. Ischaemic stroke was observed at an annual rate of 0.8% and the annual rate of any thromboembolic (TE) event was 2.5%. Major bleeding during follow-up occurred at an annual rate of 1.3%. CONCLUSIONS: LAAO is a safe and effective stroke prevention therapy in a high-risk NVAF cohort, both at implantation and over longer follow-up periods. The long-term assessed ischaemic stroke rate in patients treated with LAAO is markedly reduced compared to the expected rate based on the patients' risk scores.
AIMS: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may be considered for stroke prophylaxis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Data on device implantation safety and feasibility and long-term follow-up are limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: LAAO was performed using the AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug (ACP) device in 134 NVAF patients with long-term OAC contraindication, with median (interquartile range) CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores of four (3-5) and three (2-3.75), respectively. Follow-up data were collected over a mean follow-up period of 680 days (range: 42 days to 4.3 years) comprising a total implant experience of 238 patient-years. Device implantation was successful in 95.5% of the procedures and associated with a rate of major procedural complications of 2.2%. At the most recent follow-up, almost all patients were receiving antiplatelet therapy. Ischaemic stroke was observed at an annual rate of 0.8% and the annual rate of any thromboembolic (TE) event was 2.5%. Major bleeding during follow-up occurred at an annual rate of 1.3%. CONCLUSIONS: LAAO is a safe and effective stroke prevention therapy in a high-risk NVAF cohort, both at implantation and over longer follow-up periods. The long-term assessed ischaemic stroke rate in patients treated with LAAO is markedly reduced compared to the expected rate based on the patients' risk scores.
Authors: Tatiana Busu; Safi U Khan; Muhammad Alhajji; Fahad Alqahtani; David R Holmes; Mohamad Alkhouli Journal: Am J Cardiol Date: 2020-03-14 Impact factor: 2.778
Authors: Mohammed Osman; Tatiana Busu; Khansa Osman; Safi U Khan; Matthew Daniels; David R Holmes; Mohamad Alkhouli Journal: JACC Clin Electrophysiol Date: 2020-01-29
Authors: Gavino Casu; Michele Massimo Gulizia; Giulio Molon; Patrizio Mazzone; Andrea Audo; Giancarlo Casolo; Emilio Di Lorenzo; Michele Portoghese; Christian Pristipino; Renato Pietro Ricci; Sakis Themistoclakis; Luigi Padeletti; Claudio Tondo; Sergio Berti; Jacopo Andrea Oreglia; Gino Gerosa; Marco Zanobini; Gian Paolo Ussia; Giuseppe Musumeci; Francesco Romeo; Roberto Di Bartolomeo Journal: Eur Heart J Suppl Date: 2017-05-02 Impact factor: 1.803