Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure in AF using Amplatzer Cardiac Plug: First single center experience from...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia, particularly in the elderly, associated with significant mortality and morbidity.
• Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is effective for stroke prevention in AF but carries bleeding risks, leading to underuse or suboptimal dosing.
• Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure offers an alternative for patients with OAC contraindications or high bleeding risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first single-center experience in India of percutaneous LAA closure using the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this procedure in patients with non-valvular AF who cannot tolerate OAC.
• To provide a comprehensive review of the percutaneous LAA closure technique.

Main Methods:

• A single-center study involving 10 patients with non-valvular AF.
• Percutaneous LAA closure was performed using the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug.
• Patients included those with contraindications to OAC, high bleeding risk, or labile INR.

Main Results:

• Successful device deployment in all 10 cases.
• No major perioperative or short-term follow-up complications were reported.
• The study included a review of the LAA closure technique and modifications.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous LAA closure with the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug is a safe and effective option for selected AF patients in India.
• This procedure provides a viable alternative for stroke risk reduction in patients unable to receive OAC.
• Further experience and data are warranted to establish its role in clinical practice.