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Updated: Oct 9, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
[Treatment of left atrial thrombosis by low-molecular-weight heparin. A preliminary study of 6 cases]
J N Labèque1, P Laffort, S Lafitte
1Hôpital cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, CHU de Bordeaux, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac.
Insights
Low molecular weight heparin, Enoxaparin, effectively treated left atrial thrombosis in a preliminary study. This anticoagulant offers a safe alternative to oral anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Left atrial thrombosis is a significant complication of atrial fibrillation, posing a risk of embolism, particularly to the brain.
- Current standard treatment involves oral anticoagulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of Enoxaparin, a low molecular weight heparin, in treating left atrial thrombosis.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study conducted over one year.
- Patients were recruited from a transesophageal echocardiography laboratory.
- Six patients with detected left atrial thrombi received ambulatory Enoxaparin therapy.
Main Results:
- Five out of six patients showed no signs of left atrial thrombosis after three weeks of Enoxaparin treatment.
- The remaining patient's thrombus decreased in size and remained hyperechogenic.
- No adverse events such as bleeding, hematoma, embolism, or thrombocytopenia were reported.
Conclusions:
- Low molecular weight heparin (Enoxaparin) demonstrates potential as an effective and well-tolerated alternative to oral anticoagulation for left atrial thrombosis.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.
Abstract:
Left atrial thrombosis is a serious complication of atrial fibrillation because of its embolic potential, especially for the cerebral circulation. These thrombi are usually treated by oral anticoagulation. The authors studied the efficacy and tolerance of a low molecular weight heparin. Enoxaparin, in the treatment of this condition. This was a prospective study carried out over a 1 year period. Patient recruitment came from the transoesophageal echocardiography laboratory: of 15 thrombi detected, 6 were treated by ambulatory Enoxaparin therapy. Five of the 6 patients had no signs of left atrial thrombosis after 3 weeks of Enoxaparin therapy. The left atrial thrombus of the 6th patient remained hyperechogenic and had decreased in length from 27 to 24 mm. No cases of bleeding, haematoma, embolism or thrombopenia were observed with this treatment. This preliminary study shows that low molecular weight heparin may be used as an alternative to classical oral anticoagulation for the treatment of left atrial thrombosis.
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