TY - JOUR
T1 - Concomitant cryoballoon ablation and percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation
AU - Fassini, Gaetano
AU - Conti, Sergio
AU - Moltrasio, Massimo
AU - Maltagliati, Anna
AU - Tundo, Fabrizio
AU - Riva, Stefania
AU - Dello Russo, Antonio
AU - Casella, Michela
AU - Majocchi, Benedetta
AU - Zucchetti, Martina
AU - Russo, Eleonora
AU - Marino, Vittoria
AU - Pepi, Mauro
AU - Tondo, Claudio
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - Aims Pulmonary veins (PVs) isolation is the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and can be achieved either by conventional radiofrequency ablation or by cryoenergy. Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure has been proposed as alternative treatment to vitamin K antagonists (VKA). We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of combining cryoballoon (CB) ablation and LAA occlusion in patients with AF and a high thromboembolic risk or contraindication to antithrombotic therapy. Methods and results Thirty-five patients (28 males, 74 ± 2 years) underwent CB ablation. Left atrial appendage occlusion was carried out by using two occluder devices (Amplatz Cardiac Plug, ACP, St. Jude Medical, MN, USA, in 25 patients; Watchman, Boston Scientific, MA, USA, in 10 patients). Thirty patients (86%) had previous stroke/TIA episodes, 6 patients (17%) had major bleeding while on VKA therapy, and 7 patients (20%) had inherited bleeding disorders. Over the follow-up (24 ± 12 months), atrial arrhythmias recurred in 10 (28%) patients. Thirty patients (86%) had complete sealing; 5 patients (14%) showed a residual flow (<5 mm) at first transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) check, while at 1-year TEE residual flow was detected in 3 patients. In 13 patients (37%), VKA therapy was immediately discontinued. Six patients (17%) received novel oral anticoagulants treatment and then discontinued 3 months thereafter. No device-related complications or clinical thromboembolic events occurred. Conclusion Combined CB ablation and LAA closure using different devices appears to be feasible in patients with non-valvular AF associated with high risk of stroke or contraindication to antithrombotic treatment.
AB - Aims Pulmonary veins (PVs) isolation is the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and can be achieved either by conventional radiofrequency ablation or by cryoenergy. Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure has been proposed as alternative treatment to vitamin K antagonists (VKA). We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of combining cryoballoon (CB) ablation and LAA occlusion in patients with AF and a high thromboembolic risk or contraindication to antithrombotic therapy. Methods and results Thirty-five patients (28 males, 74 ± 2 years) underwent CB ablation. Left atrial appendage occlusion was carried out by using two occluder devices (Amplatz Cardiac Plug, ACP, St. Jude Medical, MN, USA, in 25 patients; Watchman, Boston Scientific, MA, USA, in 10 patients). Thirty patients (86%) had previous stroke/TIA episodes, 6 patients (17%) had major bleeding while on VKA therapy, and 7 patients (20%) had inherited bleeding disorders. Over the follow-up (24 ± 12 months), atrial arrhythmias recurred in 10 (28%) patients. Thirty patients (86%) had complete sealing; 5 patients (14%) showed a residual flow (<5 mm) at first transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) check, while at 1-year TEE residual flow was detected in 3 patients. In 13 patients (37%), VKA therapy was immediately discontinued. Six patients (17%) received novel oral anticoagulants treatment and then discontinued 3 months thereafter. No device-related complications or clinical thromboembolic events occurred. Conclusion Combined CB ablation and LAA closure using different devices appears to be feasible in patients with non-valvular AF associated with high risk of stroke or contraindication to antithrombotic treatment.
KW - Left atrial appendage closure
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U2 - 10.1093/europace/euw007
DO - 10.1093/europace/euw007
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84994667281
VL - 18
SP - 1705
EP - 1710
JO - Europace
JF - Europace
SN - 1099-5129
IS - 11
ER -