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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Post mortem analysis of a left atrial appendage occlusion device (PLAATO) in a patient with permanent atrial
Heyder Omran1, Harald Schmidt, David Hardung
1Innere Abteilung, St. Marien Hospital Bonn, Robert-Koch-Str. 1, 53115, Bonn, Germany. heyder.omran@marien-hospital-bonn.de
Insights
Left atrial appendage occlusion devices effectively prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation patients. Post-mortem analysis confirms complete appendage closure and tissue coverage one year after implantation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) poses a significant risk of thromboembolism, primarily stroke.
- Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) offers a novel therapeutic strategy to mitigate this risk.
- Evaluating the long-term efficacy and biocompatibility of LAAO devices is crucial.
Observation:
- A post-mortem analysis was conducted on a patient one year after LAAO device implantation.
- The study examined the atrial surface of the implanted device and the occluded left atrial appendage.
Findings:
- The atrial surface of the LAAO device demonstrated complete coverage by neo-endothelium.
- The device successfully achieved complete occlusion of the left atrial appendage.
- Histological examination confirmed the integration and patency of the occluded appendage.
Implications:
- These findings support the long-term safety and efficacy of LAAO devices in preventing thromboembolic events.
- Complete neo-endothelialization suggests favorable biocompatibility and reduced risk of device-related thrombosis.
- LAAO represents a viable alternative to long-term anticoagulation for stroke prevention in select AF patients.
Abstract:
Thromboemoblism is the most feared complication of atrial fibrillation. Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion is a new interventional procedure for reducing thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. The paper reports of a post mortem analysis of the device demonstrating that one year after implantation the atrial surface of the device is completely covered by neo-endothelium and the device occludes the appendage completely.
