심방 세동에 대한 왼쪽 심방 부위 요 폐쇄와 함께 카테 테르 박리

In a preliminary study of WATCHMAN implantation in 10 patients that had a high risk of stroke and bleeding, 9 of the patients received the device after a catheter ablation. The data from this study is published in the Netherlands Heart Journal, and is presented here with permission 21. All patients included in the study were fully informed about the procedure and signed a consent form. The study was approved by the hospital’s ethics committee and all procedures were performed in accordance with the hospital’s ethics standards and the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 (revised in 2008). The characteristics of these patients are summarized in Table 1. All patients had documented AF with a high stroke risk (CHADS2 >1) and all but one of the patients had history of stroke. LAA closure was indicated as an alternative to OAC for the following reasons: stroke during OAC therapy (3/10), severe bleeding during OAC therapy (2/10) and patient preference (5/10). Prior to the procedure all patients were taking a vitamin K antagonist. The median CHADS2 score for this group was 3, with a median CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3.5 and a median HAS-BLED score of 1.5. Prior to the procedure, all patients underwent TEE to exclude LAA thrombus and to rule out structural cardiac abnormalities. Among patients, the average maximum LAA diameter was 20.2±2.2 mm with an average depth of 27.9±5.4 mm. 40% of the patients had a multi-lobular atrial appendage. Table 2 outlines procedural characteristics. The WATCHMAN LAA closure device was successfully placed in all 10 patients. Based on patient anatomy determined during preliminary TEE, three different device sizes were used. The median total procedure time was 104 min (range 75-167 min), including a median 56 min (range 38-137 min) for LAA occlusion. During the procedure, an asymptomatic catheter thrombus occurred in one patient. The thrombus was aspirated and the patient received an extra bolus of heparin. Prolonged femoral vein bleeding in this patient necessitated a blood transfusion and extended hospitalization. All other patients were discharged from the hospital on the day following the procedure (Table 2). OAC was continued at least until TEE was performed at 45 days, at which point the device position and closure rate was assessed. The findings at the 45-day patient follow-up are summarized Table 3. Successful device implantation was defined as long-term sealing of the LAA as measured by TEE 45 days after the procedure without major adverse events. Residual flow (< 5 mm) around the device was allowed after the procedure (according to the PROTECT-AF study). Importantly, no thromboembolic cerebral events occurred. Minimal residual flow was observed in 3 patients. TEE revealed asymptomatic embolization of the device in one patient, and the device was percutaneously retrieved via the femoral vein. Thrombus was not seen on the device in any cases. One patient required a redo-ablation procedure 3 months after the initial procedure, in which pulmonary vein isolation was successful. The implanted LAA device was not affected by and did not interfere with the procedure. Three of the 10 patients were able to discontinue warfarin treatment at 45 days. In the PROTECT-AF18 and Continues Access Registry29 device embolization occurred in 3 patients out of the 1,002 patients implanted. Figure 2 shows a TEE screen capture of the LAA in one example patient in which no residual flow is observed 45 days post-procedure. In contrast, flow around the device, as evidenced by color Doppler, is seen for another patient (Figure 3). Baseline Characteristics Number, n 10 Age (years) 61.6 +/9.6 Sex (male) 5 (50) Median CHADS2 3 (2-4) 2 4 (40) 3 4 (40) 4 2 (20) CHA2DS2-VASc 3.5 (2-6) HAS-BLED 1.5 (1-4) Vitamin K antagonist, n(%) 10 (100) Indication, n(%) Bleeding with OAC 2 (20) Stroke using OAC 3 (30) Patient Preference 5 (50) LAA, mm LAA width 20.2+/2.2 LAA length 27.9+/-5.4 Multilobular 4 (40) Table 1. Baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the study. Data reprinted with permission from the Netherlands Heart Journal 21. All data are presented as mean +/- standard deviation, as number with percentage (n(%)) or median with lower and upper range, N=number, mm=millimeters, OAC=oral anticoagulation, LAA=left atrial appendage. Procedural characteristics PVAC, n(%) 9 (90) Size device (mm) 24 (21-27) 21 1 (10) 24 8 (80) 27 1 (10) LAA Occlusion Time (min) 56 (38-137) Total procedural time (min) 104 (75-167) Devices, n 2 (1-3) Complications, n(%) Catheter thrombus 1 (10)* Inguinal bleeding 1 (10)* Pericardial effusion 0 (0)* TEE Successful implantation 10 (100) Residual Flow 1 (10) Hospitalization, days 2 (2-7) Table 2. Procedural characteristics. Data reprinted with permission from the Netherlands Heart Journal 21. All data are presented as mean +/- standard deviation, as number with percentage (n(%)) or median with lower and upper range, N=number, mm=millimeters, PVAC=pulmonary vein ablation catheter, TEE=Transesophageal echocardiography. *Both in the same patient. Follow-up characteristics at 45 days Number, n (%) 10 TEE, n (%)   Residual flow 3 (33) Device embolization 1 (10) Thrombus on device 0 (0) Vitamin K antagonist, n(%) 6 (67) Complications during follow-up, n(%) Death 0 (0) Stroke or TIA 0 (0) Bleeding 1 (10) Table 3. 45-day follow-up. Data reprinted with permission from Netherlands Heart Journal 21. All data are presented as mean +/- standard deviation, as number with percentage (n(%)) or median with lower and upper range, N=number, mm=millimeters, TEE=Transesophageal echocardiography, TIA=transient ischemic attack. Figure 1. The WATCHMAN Device. The WATCHMAN device is a nitinol cage covered with a Polyethyl terephthalate membrane. Fixation barbs around the perimeter secure the device in the LAA. Figure 2. A complete LAA isolation or occlusion. TEE with color Doppler demonstrating proper positioning and occlusion at 45 days post-procedure from different TEE-angulations in a single patient. As the TEE probe looks at the device between 0-180 °, there is no flow in the appendage and that the device is appropriately placed in all views. Figure 3. An incomplete LAA occlusion. TEE with color Doppler 45 days post-procedure demonstrating flow (leak) around the device. As the TEE probe looks at the device between 0-180 °, a small gap (<5 mm) with color flow is seen around the device. These findings still can be qualified as successful sealing. Therefore OAC can be stopped. All images are from the same patient.