[Dislodgement of a left atrial appendage occluder : Step-by-step management by retrograde extraction with a "home-made snare" and two sheaths]. / Dislokation eines Vorhofohr-Okkluders : Step-by-step-Management mittels retrograder Extraktion über einen "homemade" Snare und 2 Schleusen.

Dislodgement of a left atrial appendage occluder after liberation represents a nightmare in cardiac interventions. We present a case with this complication and an easy step-by-step protocol that can help to retrieve and venously extract this foreign body with less stress. Particularly the do-it-yourself construction of a "home-made snare" facilitates trapping of large implants which are too large for conventional snares.

Cierre de orejuela izquierda en pacientes mayores de 85 años: seguridad y eficacia del registro EWOLUTION / Left atrial appendage occlusion in patients older than 85 years. Safety and efficacy in the EWOLUTION registry

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: Los pacientes ancianos con fibrilación auricular están en mayor riesgo de eventos cardioembólicos y hemorragia mayor que los más jóvenes. El cierre de la orejuela izquierda (COI) podría ser una opción atractiva para estos pacientes, pero hay pocos datos sobre los resultados del COI de pacientes de 85 o más años. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar la seguridad y la eficacia del COI de pacientes de 85 o más años. MÉTODOS: Se analizó a 1.025 pacientes incluidos en el registro EWOLUTION que se habían sometido al COI, se identificó a 84 de edad ≥ 85 años y se los comparó con el grupo de menos edad. RESULTADOS: Los pacientes de 85 o más años tenían mayores riesgos estimados de accidente cerebrovascular y de hemorragias que los pacientes más jóvenes (edad ≥ 85 frente a <85 años: CHA2DS2-VASc, 5,2+/-1,2 frente a 4,4+/-1,6; p <0,0001; HAS-BLED, 2,7+/-1,1 frente a 2,3+/-1,2; p = 0,003). Las tasas de éxito del procedimiento fueron altas y similares en ambos grupos (el 98,8 frente al 98,5%; p = 0,99). No hubo diferencias en las tasas de eventos adversos relacionados con el dispositivo o el procedimiento a los 7 días (el 2,6 frente al 3,1%; p = 0,80). A pesar del mayor riesgo basal de accidente cerebrovascular, en el seguimiento no hubo diferencias entre los grupos en la tasa de ictus anualizada (0,8 frente a 1,3/100 pacientes-año; p = 0,649). CONCLUSIONES: El COI de los pacientes de edad ≥ 85 años es seguro y eficaz a pesar del alto riesgo de eventos embólicos y hemorrágicos de estos pacientes. El COI puede ser una alternativa razonable a la anticoagulación oral para estos pacientes

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Elderly patients with atrial fibrillation are at greater risk of both cardioembolic events and major bleeding than younger patients. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) could be an attractive alternative for these patients, but there are limited data on outcomes with LAAO in patients ≥ 85 years old. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of LAAO in patients ≥ 85 years old. METHODS: A total of 1025 patients included in the EWOLUTION registry who underwent LAAO were analyzed and 84 patients ≥ 85 years old were identified and compared with the younger cohort. RESULTS: Patients ≥ 85 years old had higher estimated stroke and hemorrhagic risks than younger patients (CHA2DS2-VASc: 5.2+/-1.2 vs 4.4+/-1.6, P <.0001; HAS-BLED: 2.7+/-1.1 vs 2.3+/-1.2; P=.003; ≥ 85 years vs <85 years). Procedural success was high and similar in both groups (98.8% vs 98.5%; P=.99). There were no differences in 7-day device- or procedure-related adverse event rates (2.6% in ≥ 85 years vs 3.1% in <85 years; P=.80). Despite the higher baseline stroke risk, there was no difference at follow-up between the groups in the annualized stroke rate (0.8/100 patient-years in ≥ 85 years vs 1.3/100 patient-years in <85 years; P=.649). CONCLUSIONS: LAAO in patients ≥ 85 years is safe and effective even though these patients are at high risk for embolic and hemorrhagic events. LAAO may be a reasonable alternative to oral anticoagulation in these patients

Left atrial appendage occlusion in patients older than 85 years. Safety and efficacy in the EWOLUTION registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Elderly patients with atrial fibrillation are at greater risk of both cardioembolic events and major bleeding than younger patients. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) could be an attractive alternative for these patients, but there are limited data on outcomes with LAAO in patients ≥ 85 years old. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of LAAO in patients ≥ 85 years old. METHODS: A total of 1025 patients included in the EWOLUTION registry who underwent LAAO were analyzed and 84 patients ≥ 85 years old were identified and compared with the younger cohort. RESULTS: Patients ≥ 85 years old had higher estimated stroke and hemorrhagic risks than younger patients (CHA2DS2-VASc: 5.2±1.2 vs 4.4±1.6, P <.0001; HAS-BLED: 2.7±1.1 vs 2.3±1.2; P=.003; ≥ 85 years vs <85 years). Procedural success was high and similar in both groups (98.8% vs 98.5%; P=.99). There were no differences in 7-day device- or procedure-related adverse event rates (2.6% in ≥ 85 years vs 3.1% in <85 years; P=.80). Despite the higher baseline stroke risk, there was no difference at follow-up between the groups in the annualized stroke rate (0.8/100 patient-years in ≥ 85 years vs 1.3/100 patient-years in <85 years; P=.649). CONCLUSIONS: LAAO in patients ≥ 85 years is safe and effective even though these patients are at high risk for embolic and hemorrhagic events. LAAO may be a reasonable alternative to oral anticoagulation in these patients.

[Implantation of Watchman™ occluder of the left atrial appendage. Tips and tricks]. / Implantation des Watchman™-Vorhofohr-Okkluders. Tipps und Tricks zur Implantation.

The implantation of an occluder system for the left atrial appendage (LAA) represents an interesting alternative for patients with atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc-Score ≥ 2 who cannot take permanent anticoagulation for various reasons. As in other left cardiac interventions, there are potentially dangerous possibilities for complications that can limit the advantages of this therapy. This overview summarizes practical tips and tricks at the implantation of a Watchman™ occluder which may help to minimize the complication rate. These hints refer to peri-interventional anticoagulation as well as transseptal puncture (technique, imaging), exchange of catheters, left atrial pressure, intubation and fluoroscopy of the LAA, preparation of the device and sheath, delivery of the Watchman™ device, confirmation of optimal position, and partial or complete recapture. If these precautions are considered, the complication rate at implantation of a Watchman™ occluder should be < 5 %, the rate of complications with long-term consequences < 1 %, and the implant success should lie > 95 %.