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Follow-up imaging after left atrial appendage closure.
- Source :
-
Heart rhythm [Heart Rhythm] 2020 Nov; Vol. 17 (11), pp. 1848-1855. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jun 27. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Background: Because device-related thrombus (DRT) portends a poor prognosis after left atrial appendage closure with the Watchman device, surveillance transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is recommended at 45 days and 1 year. However, oral anticoagulants are just discontinued at 45 days, rendering this early TEE unlikely to detect DRT. Indeed, DRT is most likely to occur after instituting aspirin monotherapy.<br />Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the alternative strategy of first TEE imaging (or computed tomography) at 4 months post-Watchman implantation.<br />Methods: After Food and Drug Administration approval, consecutive patients undergoing Watchman implantation at 2 centers received TEE or CT at 4 months and 1 year, along with a truncated drug regimen: 6 weeks of an oral anticoagulant (or clopidogrel in a subset) plus aspirin, then 6 weeks of dual antiplatelet therapy, and finally aspirin monotherapy.<br />Results: Of the 530-patient cohort (mean age 78.7±7.9 years; 65.5% (n = 347) male; CHA <subscript>2</subscript> DS <subscript>2</subscript> -VASc score 4.5±1.4), 465 patients (87.7%) received 4-month imaging: 83.0% (440 of 530) TEE and 4.7% (25 of 530) computed tomography. Over a median follow-up of 12 months, 16 ischemic strokes (ISs), 8 transient ischemic attacks, and 1 systemic embolization occurred. Importantly, no IS occurred between 45 days and 4 months; the sole transient ischemic attack in this period (at ∼2 months) occurred 1 week after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. DRT was detected in 2.4% (11 of 465) at 4 months and 0.9% (2 of 214) at 1 year. No IS, but 1 leg embolization, was observed after DRT detection.<br />Conclusion: Delaying the first imaging post-Watchman implantation to 4 months was associated with no IS between 45 days and 4 months, the "vulnerable" period of this follow-up strategy.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Atrial Appendage surgery
Atrial Fibrillation diagnosis
Atrial Fibrillation physiopathology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Atrial Appendage diagnostic imaging
Atrial Fibrillation surgery
Cardiac Catheterization methods
Cardiac Surgical Procedures methods
Echocardiography, Transesophageal methods
Registries
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1556-3871
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Heart rhythm
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 32603780
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.06.024