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Canadian Journal of Cardiology
Clinical Research| Volume 32, ISSUE 3, P349-354, March 2016

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Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation Is Safe and Effective After Intracranial or Intraocular Hemorrhage

Published:August 11, 2015DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2015.07.723

      Abstract

      Background

      Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects 1%-2% of the general population and 13% of individuals older than 80 years of age. Anticoagulation has been the mainstay therapy to reduce stroke risk. Patients with previous intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or intraocular hemorrhage (IOH) are at increased risk of recurrence if anticoagulation is continued or initiated. Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure may obviate the need for long-term anticoagulation in these patients.

      Methods

      We report our consecutive series of patients with nonvalvular AF with previous ICH or IOH who underwent LAA closure with the AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug (ACP; St Jude Medical, St Paul, MN), AMPLATZER Amulet, or WATCHMAN (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) device. Demographics, clinical status, procedural outcomes, and complications were collected at baseline, during the procedure, at 3 months, at 1 year, and annually thereafter.

      Results

      Twenty-six patients with previous ICH (n = 24) or IOH (n = 2) underwent LAA closure (9 with the ACP, 3 with the Amulet, and 7 with the WATCHMAN). The mean age was 76 ± 7 years, and 61.5% were men with a mean CHADS2 (Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Age, Diabetes, Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack) score of 3.2 ± 1.4 and CHA2DS2-VASc (Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Age [≥ 75 years], Diabetes, Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack, Vascular Disease, Age [65-74 years], Sex [Female] score) of 4.9 ± 1.7. No procedure-related complications occurred. Mean follow-up was 11.9 ± 13.3 months. One patient died at 13 months (this death was not related to the procedure), and 1 patient had a transient ischemic attack at 20.6 months after the procedure. No ischemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, or bleeding problems occurred during follow-up.

      Conclusions

      In our consecutive series, LAA closure was found to be safe and effective in patients with AF and a history of ICH or IOH.

      Résumé

      Introduction

      La fibrillation auriculaire (FA) touche 1 % à 2 % de la population générale et 13 % des individus âgés de plus de 80 ans. L’anticoagulation a été le principal traitement utilisé pour réduire le risque d’accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC). Les patients ayant déjà souffert d’une hémorragie intracrânienne (HIC) ou d’une hémorragie intraoculaire (HIO) sont exposés à un risque plus élevé de récidive si l’anticoagulation est poursuivie ou amorcée. La fermeture de l’appendice auriculaire gauche (AAG) peut éviter de recourir à l’anticoagulation chez ces patients.

      Méthodes

      Nous présentons nos séries consécutives de patients souffrant de FA non valvulaire qui ont déjà eu une HIC ou une HIO et qui ont subi la fermeture de l’AAG à l’aide du dispositif AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug (ACP; St Jude Medical, St Paul, MN), du dispositif AMPLATZER Amulet ou du dispositif WATCHMAN (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA). Les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, l’état clinique, les résultats interventionnels et les complications étaient recueillis au début, durant l’intervention, à 3 mois, à 1 an et annuellement par la suite.

      Résultats

      Vingt-six patients ayant déjà eu une HIC (n = 24) ou une HIO (n = 2) ont subi la fermeture de l’AAG (9 à l’aide de l’ACP, 3 à l’aide de l’Amulet et 7 à l’aide du WATCHMAN). L’âge moyen était de 76 ± 7 ans, et 61,5 % étaient des hommes ayant un score CHADS2 (Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Age, Diabetes, Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack, soit l’insuffisance cardiaque congestive, l’hypertension, l’âge, le diabète, l’AVC/l’ischémie cérébrale transitoire [ICT]) moyen de 3,2 ± 1,4 et un score CHA2DS2VASc (Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Age [≥ 75 years), Diabetes, Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack, Vascular Disease, Age [65-74 years], Sex [Female], soit l’insuffisance cardiaque congestive, l’hypertension, l’âge, le diabète, l’AVC/l’ICT, la maladie vasculaire, l’âge [65 à 74 ans], le sexe [féminin]) moyen de 4,9 ± 1,7. Aucune complication liée à l’intervention n’est apparue. Le suivi moyen était de 11,9 ± 13,3 mois. Un patient est mort après 13 mois (ce décès n’était pas lié à l’intervention) et 1 patient a subi une ICT 20,6 mois après l’intervention. Aucun AVC ischémique, aucun AVC hémorragique ou problème hémorragique ne sont apparus au cours du suivi.

      Conclusions

      Dans nos séries consécutives, la fermeture de l’AAG s’était avérée sûre et efficace chez les patients souffrant de FA et ayant des antécédents de HIC ou de HIO.
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