Safety and efficacy of percutaneous atrial appendage closure followed by antiplatelet therapy in a high-risk population: single-center experience with a WATCHMAN device

IntroductionIn our everyday practice we encounter many patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation with either a contraindication to oral anticoagulation or with its inefficiency. AimTo investigate whether left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) followed by post-procedure antiplatelet therapy is safe and efficient in a high-risk population. Material and methodsNinety-one (48 males) consecutive patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) underwent an LAAC procedure using a first-generation WATCHMAN 2.5 device followed by antiplatelet therapy. Clinical and transesophageal echocardiography data were collected at baseline and at the follow-up visit. ResultsThe median (IQR) CHA2DS2-VASc score was 5 (4.0-6.0) and the HAS-BLED score was 3 (3.0-4.0); the mean (SD) age was 74.4 (8.4). A bleeding history was observed in 89% of patients and 24.2% of patients had a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The procedure was successful in 98.9%. Post-procedure therapy was dual antiplatelet therapy in 85 patients; 3 patients received single antiplatelet therapy and the therapy was maintained until the follow-up visit. Peri-procedural complications were tamponade (3.3%), pericardial effusion (2.2%) and two deaths (2.2%) with no bleeding or vascular complications. The median follow-up was 67 (52.75-84.75) days. Primary safety endpoint (bleeding BARC type 3 or more, tamponade, pericardial effusion, and device embolization) and primary efficacy endpoint (stroke or TIA, hemorrhagic stroke, peripheral embolism, cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV death) were observed in 2 and 4 patients, respectively. ConclusionsThe LAAC procedure followed by antiplatelet therapy seems to be safe and efficient in the high-risk population. Further studies in this field are required.