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(Circulation. 2002;105:1887.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Brief Rapid Communications

Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Transcatheter Occlusion to Prevent Stroke in High-Risk Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Early Clinical Experience

Horst Sievert, MD; Michael D. Lesh, MD; Thomas Trepels; Heyder Omran, MD; Antonio Bartorelli, MD; Paola Della Bella, MD; Toshiko Nakai, MD; Mark Reisman, MD; Carlo DiMario, MD; Peter Block, MD; Paul Kramer, MD; Dirk Fleschenberg; Ulrike Krumsdorf; Detlef Scherer, MD

From the Cardiovascular Center Bethanien (H.S., T.T., D.F., U.K., D.S.), Frankfurt; Germany; University of California (M.D.L., T.N.), San Francisco; Appriva Medical (M.D., T.N.), Sunnyvale, Calif; the Department of Cardiology (H.O.), University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Centro Cardiologico Monzino Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (A.B., P.D.B.), Milano, Italy; Swedish Medical Center (M.R.), Seattle, Wash; Hospital S Raffaele (C.D.), Milano, Italy; Emory University Hospital (P.B.), Atlanta, Ga; and St Luke’s Hospital (P.K.), Kansas City, Mo.

Correspondence to Horst Sievert, MD, Cardiovascular Center Bethanien, Im Prüfling 23, 60389 Frankfurt, Germany. E-mail horst.sievert@ dgn.de

Background— Thromboembolism due to atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent cause of stroke. More than 90% of thrombi in AF form in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Obliteration of the appendage may prevent embolic complications.

Methods and Results— We evaluated the feasibility and safety of implanting a novel device for percutaneous left atrial appendage transcatheter occlusion (PLAATO). LAA occlusion using the PLAATO system was attempted in 15 patients with chronic AF at high risk for stroke, who are poor candidates for long-term warfarin therapy. The implant consists of a self-expanding nitinol cage covered with a polymeric membrane (ePTFE). The LAA was successfully occluded in 15/15 patients (100%). Angiography and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during the procedure showed that the device was well-seated in all patients and that there was no evidence of perforation, device embolization, or interference with surrounding structures. In 1 patient, the first procedure was complicated by a hemopericardium, which occurred during LAA access. A second attempt 30 days later was successful with no untoward sequela. No other complications occurred. At 1-month follow-up, chest fluoroscopy and TEE revealed continued stable implant position with smooth atrial-facing surface and no evidence of thrombus.

Conclusions— Thus, transcatheter closure of the LAA is feasible in humans. This novel implant technology may be appropriate for patients with AF who are not suitable candidates for anticoagulation therapy. Further trials are needed to show the long-term safety and its efficacy in reducing stroke.

Key Words: atrial flutter • embolism • stroke • thrombus • atrium

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