Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Role of echocardiography in percutaneous occlusion of the left atrial appendage
Tomás Mráz1, Petr Neuzil, Eva Mandysová
1Department of Cardiology, Hospital Na Homolce, Prague, Czech Republic. mrazt@seznam.cz
Insights
Echocardiography is vital for left atrial appendage occlusion in atrial fibrillation patients. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) aids transseptal puncture, while transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) improves occluder placement.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Interventional Procedures
Background:
- Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion offers an alternative stroke risk reduction strategy for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients unsuitable for anticoagulation.
- Echocardiography is crucial for patient selection, procedural guidance, and follow-up in LAA occlusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in enhancing the efficiency of LAA occlusion procedures.
- To compare the roles of TEE and ICE in facilitating key procedural steps.
Main Methods:
- The study assessed the application of TEE and ICE during percutaneous LAA occlusion.
- Specific focus on their roles in transseptal puncture and occluder positioning.
Main Results:
- Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) offers a more convenient approach, particularly in non-anesthetized patients, by facilitating transseptal puncture.
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), with its image plane rotation capabilities, aids in optimizing occluder device deployment and positioning.
Conclusions:
- Echocardiographic guidance is indispensable for successful LAA occlusion.
- The choice between TEE and ICE may evolve with advancements in each imaging modality.
Unlabelled:
Percutaneous occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is a modern alternative for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and with a high risk of stroke who are not eligible for long-term anticoagulation therapy. Echocardiography plays a significant role in selecting patients, guiding the procedure, and in the post-procedural follow-up.
Objectives And Methods:
To test the role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in facilitating and shortening the procedure.
Results:
ICE represents a more convenient approach in patients who are not under generally anesthesia and helps to facilitate transseptal puncture. On the other hand, TEE, having the ability to rotate the image plane, helps to better determine the position of the occluder.
Conclusions:
Echocardiographic guidance of this procedure is essential. Which approach will be preferred will depend on the development of these two methods.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for diagnosing...
01:17Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion, evaluates...