Objective: The thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage (LAA) can be challenging for operators and increases periprocedural complication risk. However, recent consensus documents discuss that closure is a potential therapeutic option malign appendage. This clinical study aimed to evaluate procedural safety early efficacy outcomes of patients with thrombus. Methods: observational single-c...

The left atrial (LA) appendage is a common source of cardiac thrombus formation associated with systemic embolism. Transesophageal echocardiography allows a detailed evaluation of the structure and function of the appendage by two-dimensional imaging and Doppler interrogation of appendage flow. Specific flow patterns, reflecting appendage function, have been characterized for normal sinus rhyth...

BACKGROUND Echocardiographic parameters for predicting cardioversion outcome in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation are not accurately defined. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of left atrial appendage flow velocity detected by transoesophageal echocardiography for prediction of cardioversion outcome in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation enrolled in a prospective. multice...

INTRODUCTION Stroke accounts for approx. 90% of thromboembolic complications associated with atrial fibrillation. The use of oral anticoagulants is the most effective therapy but is associated with risk of haemorrhagic complications. AIM In this article, we describe a series of patients with atrial fibrillation, cardiogenic stroke history, and contraindications for long-term anticoagulant the...

a 54-year-old man referred to our center with barlow’s disease and severe mitral regurgitation. he had atrial fibrillation (af) rhythm, with a mildly enlarged left atrium (la). transesophageal echocardiography (tee) showed no clot in the la and la appendage; there was only mild spontaneous echo contrast in the la appendage. the patient underwent mitral valve repair and the maze operation, durin...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a commonly sustained atrial arrhythmia with associated morbidity and mortality. AF is associated with increased risk of thromboembolism and stroke, requiring use of anticoagulation. Anticoagulation decreases the risk of stroke but is associated with a higher risk of bleeding, necessitating discontinuation in some patients. The left atrial appendage is the likely sour...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is associated with embolic strokes that often result in death or disability. Effective in reducing these events, anticoagulation has several limitations and has been widely underutilized. Over 90% of thrombi identified in patients with atrial fibrillation without valvular disease originate in the left atrial appendage, whose occlusion is investigated as an alterna...

The risk of embolic stroke is 5 times higher among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with those without AF. More than 90% of thrombi form in the left atrial appendage (LAA) in AF. The purpose of this review is to determine the efficacy and safety of the left atrial appendage (LAA) closure via a percutaneous LAA ligation approach, thus preventing a stroke among patients with AF and...

T he paper by Koskinas et al. (1) in this issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions describes a large series of left atrial appendage closures (LAAC) and very early outcomes data. The authors’ experience is admirable, dates back to the very beginning of endovascular LAAC, and incorporates a now obsolete device (Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Transcatheter Occlusion [PLAATO]) and a largely...