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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Changes in Left Atrial Appendage Dimensions Following Volume Loading During Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage
Ryan J Spencer1, Peggy DeJong1, Peter Fahmy1
1Division of Cardiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Objectives:
This study sought to determine whether volume loading alters the left atrial appendage (LAA) dimensions in patients undergoing percutaneous LAA closure.
Background:
Percutaneous LAA closure is increasingly performed in patients with atrial fibrillation and contraindications to anticoagulation, to lower their stroke and systemic embolism risk. The safety and efficacy of LAA closure relies on accurate device sizing, which necessitates accurate measurement of LAA dimensions. LAA size may change with volume status, and because patients are fasting for these procedures, intraprocedural measurements may not be representative of true LAA size.
Methods:
Thirty-one consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous LAA closure who received volume loading during the procedure were included in this study. After an overnight fast and induction of general anesthesia, patients had their LAA dimensions (orifice and depth) measured by transesophageal echocardiography before and after 500 to 1,000 ml of intravenous normal saline, aiming for a left atrial pressure >12 mm Hg.
Results:
Successful implantation of LAA closure device was achieved in all patients. The average orifice size of the LAA at baseline was 20.5 mm at 90°, and 22.5 mm at 135°. Following volume loading, the average orifice size of the LAA increased to 22.5 mm at 90°, and 23.5 mm at 135°. The average increase in orifice was 1.9 mm (p < 0.0001). The depth of the LAA also increased by an average of 2.5 mm after volume loading (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Intraprocedural volume loading with saline increased the LAA orifice and depth dimensions during LAA closure. Operators should consider optimizing the left atrial pressure with volume loading before final device sizing.
