Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Using Intracardiac Echocardiography

Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure (LAAC) has emerged as an alternative prevention strategy for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and contraindications to long term anticoagulation.1 In randomized trials studying the Watchman device (Boston Scientific, St. Paul, MN), implantation was performed under transesophageal (TEE) guidance.1 Use of TEE often mandates the presence of general anesthesia and an additional cardiologist or anesthesiologist to perform the TEE. This utilizes greater health care resources and adds additional complexity to the procedure.

Source: Heart Rhythm - October 3, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Apoor Patel, Rajesh Venkataraman, Paul Schurmann, Amish Dave, Miguel Valderrabano Source Type: research