Cruz-Gonzalez Ignacio, Cubeddu Roberto J, Sanchez-Ledesma Maria, Cury Ricardo C, Coggins Matthew, Maree Andrew O, Palacios Igor F
Int J Cardiol. 2009 May 1;134(1):e1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2007.12.028. Epub 2008 Feb 13.
Patients with atrial fibrillation are at an increased risk of having a cardioembolic stroke. Most of the thrombi responsible for these ischemic events originate in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Several surgical and percutaneous endovascular techniques have been explored to occlude the LAA. As an alternative of the surgical closure, percutaneous exclusion of the LAA is a new approach used to prevent strokes in high-risk patients with AF and contraindication to long-term oral anticoagulant therapy. Currently, two devices have been developed specifically for percutaneous occlusion of the LAA the PLAATO system and the WATCHMAN filter system. Although the Amplatzer septal occluder device was not originally intended to occlude the LAA it has been used with success in our centre for this purpose. We present an illustrative case of a patient with AF no longer suitable for chronic OCA referred for percutaneous exclusion of the LAA. She was treated successfully with an Amplatzer septal occluder. Although our experience with this device holds promise, future trials will be necessary to explore this strategy.
