RESUMO
We report an 88-year-old male with coronary artery disease, previously placed left main coronary artery drug-eluting stent, and atrial fibrillation unable to tolerate anticoagulation with warfarin in addition to dual antiplatelet therapy who underwent percutaneous catheter-based ligation of the left atrial appendage. During the procedure, left atrial appendage perforation occurred with resultant pericardial effusion. The novel LARIAT suture delivery system (SentreHEART) allowed immediate and definitive management of this complication and effective ligation of the left atrial appendage. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether this is a safe and effective method for thromboembolism prophylaxis in patients with atrial fibrillation, but its novel design incorporates an immediate resolution to the most-feared complication of catheter-based left atrial appendage manipulation while effectively excluding the left atrial appendage via suture ligation.
