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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Atrial assist device, a new alternative to lifelong anticoagulation?

E Abdelnour-Berchtold1, P Tozzi, G Siniscalchi

  • 1Cardiovascular Surgery Department, CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland. etienne.abdelnour@unil.ch

Swiss Medical Weekly
|February 11, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A novel artificial muscle pump (Atripump) shows promise in restoring atrial function and preventing blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation. This device could potentially eliminate the need for lifelong anticoagulation therapy, reducing bleeding risks.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases stroke risk, often necessitating lifelong anticoagulation.
  • Current treatments for AF may not fully restore atrial mechanical function, leading to persistent complications.
  • Oral anticoagulation therapy carries risks of hemorrhagic complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the hemodynamic effects of a novel motorless volume displacing device (Atripump) for atrial assistance.
  • To assess the potential of Atripump to prevent embolic events and improve atrial function.
  • To explore Atripump as an alternative to long-term anticoagulation in AF patients.

Main Methods:

  • A silicone-coated nitinol actuator (Atripump) was surgically attached to the external surface of the right atrium in five sheep.
  • Hemodynamic parameters and intracardiac ultrasound data were recorded under baseline, AF, and Atripump-assisted AF (aaAF) conditions.
  • The device was controlled by a pacemaker-like unit, and its effects on atrial function and thrombus formation were observed.

Main Results:

  • Atripump assistance prevented thrombus formation in the atrial appendix in two animals.
  • The device significantly improved atrial ejection fraction during assisted AF (20%) compared to AF alone (5%).
  • Right atrial systolic surface area was maintained under aaAF (5.4 cm²) compared to baseline (5.2 cm²).

Conclusions:

  • The Atripump effectively restores atrial mechanical function, mimicking the atrial "kick".
  • This device demonstrates potential in preventing embolic events associated with atrial fibrillation.
  • Atripump offers a promising alternative to long-term anticoagulation, potentially improving outcomes for heart failure patients.
Abstract

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