LAACLOSER001 CS5

 

. Left Atrial Appendage Closure

What is it 

The left atrial appendage is a small cul-de-sac in the wall of the left atrium (the chamber that receives oxygenated blood from the lung). This is the most frequent localization of blood clot in the heart. Blood clots can occur when fast heart beats (atrial fibrillation or flutter) hinder proper contraction of the left atrial appendage. Blood therefore stagnates and coagulates, because it is no longer squeezed out from the appendage. Appendage occlusion avoids blood entering and clot formation. An “umbrella”- like device is implanted at the origin of the left atrial appendage, and seals its entrance, making it impossible for a clot to be created in the heart structure (Fig 5). A different option is to close the appendage from the outer side of the heart with a specific wire tightening the neck of the appendage. This is done once the outer heart, the so called “epicardial space” (comprised between the 2 epicardial sheets, and a thin layer of fibrous tissue that fixes the heart to the thorax and contains a small amount of fluid so that the heart can freely move) is reached with a puncture through the superior part of the abdominal wall. Patients are usually discharged 2 days after the operation.

 

 

What we perform

All available devices, including epicardial devices, are implanted and the choice will depend on the patient specific left atrial appendage anatomy and contraindication to oral anticoagulation (blood thinning).
Immagine atrial

Why a patient needs an atrial appendage closure

Whenever blood clots form in the appendage, there is a substantial risk that a part of it will suddenly dislodge and reach the main blood stream causing an acute ischemia (occlusion of the vessel that normally supply for blood) of the brain (stroke or transient ischemic attack) or another organ. Patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter (2 fast heart beats originating from the heart chambers collecting blood) are more likely to develop a stroke than the general population, especially when additional risk factors (e.g. arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, advanced age...) are present. Oral anticoagulation (blood thinning with drugs) is the first therapeutic approach, but whenever there is a contraindication to blood thinning (because a serious bleeding already happened or the risk to develop bleeding is particularly high), percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage is indicated.

Left Atrial Appendage Closure