Left atrial appendage patency and device-related thrombus after percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion: a computed tomography study.

Aims: Transoesophageal echocardiography studies have reported frequent peri-device leaks and device-related thrombi (DRT) after percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion. We assessed the prevalence, characteristics and correlates of leaks and DRT on cardiac computed tomography (CT) after LAA occlusion. Methods and results: Consecutive patients underwent cardiac CT before LAA occlusion to assess left atrial (LA) volume, LAA shape, and landing zone diameter. Follow-up CT was performed after >3 months to assess device implantation criteria, device leaks and DRT. CT findings were related to patient and device characteristics, as well as to outcome during follow-up. One-hundred and seventeen patients (age 74 ± 9, 37% women, CHA2DS2VASc 4.4 ± 1.3, and HASBLED 3.5 ± 1.0) were implanted with Amplatzer cardiac plug (ACP)/Amulet (71%) or Watchman (29%). LAA patency was detected in 44% on arterial phase CT images and 69% on venous phase images. The most common leak location was postero-inferior. LAA patency related to LA dilatation, left ventricular ejection fraction impairment, non-chicken wing LAA shape, large landing zone diameter, incomplete device lobe thrombosis, and disc/lobe misalignment in patients with ACP/Amulet. DRT were detected in 19 (16%), most being laminated and of antero-superior location. DRT did not relate to clinical or imaging characteristics nor to implantation criteria, but to total thrombosis of device lobe. Over a mean 13 months follow-up, stroke/transient ischaemic attack occurred in eight patients, unrelated to DRT or LAA patency. Conclusion: LAA patency on CT is common after LAA occlusion, particularly on venous phase images. Leaks relate to LA/LAA size at baseline, and device malposition and incomplete thrombosis at follow-up. DRT is also quite common but poorly predicted by patient and device-related factors.

Burns injury in children: is antibiotic prophylaxis recommended?

BACKGROUND: Wound infection is the most frequent complication in burn patients. There is a lack of guidelines on the use of systemic antibiotics in children to prevent this complication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study is carried out on 80 patients to evaluate the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in the control of infections. RESULTS: The mean age was 34 months (9 months to 8 years). There was a male predominance with sex ratio of 1.66. The mean burn surface size burn was 26.5% with total burn surface area ranging from 5% to 33%, respectively. According to American Burn Association 37% (30/80) were severe burns with second and third degree burns >10% of the total surface body area in children aged <10 years old. Scalds represented 76.2% (61/80) of the burns. Burns by hot oil were 11 cases (13.7%), while 8 cases (10%) were flame burns. The random distribution of the groups was as follow: Group A (amoxicilline + clavulanic acid) = 25 cases, Group B (oxacilline) = 20 cases and Group C (no antibiotics) = 35 cases. Total infection rate was 20% (16/80), distributed as follow: 8 cases (50%) in Group C, 5 cases (31.2%) in Group A and 3 cases in Group B (18.7%). Infection rate in each individual group was: 22.9% (8 cases/35) in Group C, 20% (5 cases/25) in Group A and 15% (3 cases/20) in Group B (P = 0.7). They were distributed as follow: Septicaemia 12 cases/16 (75%), wound infection 4 cases/16 (25%). Bacteria isolated were with a decreasing order: Staphylococcus aureus (36.3%), Pseudomonas (27.2%), Escherichia coli (18.1%), Klebsiella (9%) and Enterobacteria (9%). There is a tendency to a delayed cicatrisation (P = 0.07) in case of hot oil burns (65.18 ± 120 days) than by flame (54.33 ± 19.8 days) than by hot water (29.55 ± 26.2 days). Otherwise no toxic shock syndrome was recorded in this study. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that adequate and careful nursing of burn wounds seems to be sufficient to prevent complications and to obtain cicatrisation. Antibiotics are indicated only to treat confirmed infections.