Simon Lindner1, Michael Behnes2, Annika Wenke1, Benjamin Sartorius1, Muharrem Akin3, Kambis Mashayekhi4, Joshua Gawlitza5, Kathrin Julia Weidner1, Uzair Ansari1, Holger Haubenreisser5, Stefan O Schoenberg5, Martin Borggrefe1, Ibrahim Akin1. 1. First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM), Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany. 2. First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM), Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany. michael.behnes@umm.de. 3. Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. 4. Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology II, Universitaetszentrum Freiburg Bad Krozingen, University of Freiburg, Südring 15, 79189, Bad Krozingen, Germany. 5. Institute of Clinical Radiology, University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM), Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To bridge neo-endothelialization (NE) of implanted left atrial appendage closure (LAA/LAAC) devices, dual antiplatelet therapy is prescribed. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (cCTA) has been proposed for the evaluation of interventional LAAC. This prospective longitudinal observational study applied a standardized imaging protocol to detect progression of NE of LAAC devices 6 months after implantation. METHODS: Consecutive cCTA datasets of patients six months after LAAC were acquired and the standardized multi-planar reconstruction LAA occluder view for post-implantation evaluation (LOVE) algorithm was used. Residual flow of contrast agent inside the LAA without a peri-device leak (PDL) was defined as incomplete neo-endothelialization. Absence of residual flow was defined as complete neo-endothelialization. Since PDL allows residual flow in the LAA, irrespective of neoendothelialization, PDL were excluded from this study. Diabetes mellitus, liver disease, body-mass-index, age, device sizes and type will be assessed as predictors for incomplete NE. RESULTS: 53 consecutive patients were recruited for cCTA imaging. 36 (68%) showed no PDL and were included in the study (median age 77 years, 19% female). At median follow-up of 6 months (median 180 days, IQR 178-180), 44% of patients showed complete NE compared to 56% with NE still incomplete. Age, BMI, device type and size as well as prevalence of diabetes mellitus and liver disease did not show significant correlation with the completeness of NE. CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that neo-endothelialization is still incomplete in a majority of patients at mid-term follow-up of 6 months after successful LAAC therapy. Further investigation on the consequences of incomplete endothelialization is needed to guide antiplatelet therapy schedules.
PURPOSE: To bridge neo-endothelialization (NE) of implanted left atrial appendage closure (LAA/LAAC) devices, dual antiplatelet therapy is prescribed. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (cCTA) has been proposed for the evaluation of interventional LAAC. This prospective longitudinal observational study applied a standardized imaging protocol to detect progression of NE of LAAC devices 6 months after implantation. METHODS: Consecutive cCTA datasets of patients six months after LAAC were acquired and the standardized multi-planar reconstruction LAA occluder view for post-implantation evaluation (LOVE) algorithm was used. Residual flow of contrast agent inside the LAA without a peri-device leak (PDL) was defined as incomplete neo-endothelialization. Absence of residual flow was defined as complete neo-endothelialization. Since PDL allows residual flow in the LAA, irrespective of neoendothelialization, PDL were excluded from this study. Diabetes mellitus, liver disease, body-mass-index, age, device sizes and type will be assessed as predictors for incomplete NE. RESULTS: 53 consecutive patients were recruited for cCTA imaging. 36 (68%) showed no PDL and were included in the study (median age 77 years, 19% female). At median follow-up of 6 months (median 180 days, IQR 178-180), 44% of patients showed complete NE compared to 56% with NE still incomplete. Age, BMI, device type and size as well as prevalence of diabetes mellitus and liver disease did not show significant correlation with the completeness of NE. CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that neo-endothelialization is still incomplete in a majority of patients at mid-term follow-up of 6 months after successful LAAC therapy. Further investigation on the consequences of incomplete endothelialization is needed to guide antiplatelet therapy schedules.
Authors: Ah Young Kim; Wongi Woo; Beom Jin Lim; Jo Won Jung; Jae Young Choi; Young Jin Kim Journal: Circ Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2022-07-19 Impact factor: 8.589