Intra-cardiac echo for left atrial appendage occlusion

Left atrial appendage occlusion using the Amulet device can be accomplished with fluoroscopic and intra-cardiac echo (ICE) imaging for guidance, obviating the need for general anesthesia and trans-esophageal echo. The ICE device can be placed directly into the left atrium, parallel to the occluder delivery system, using a single transseptal puncture, rather than via double transseptal puncture. The ideal methods for left atrial appendage imaging and procedure guidance have yet to be defined. The utility of CT evaluation is increasingly recognized. The emergence of three-dimensional ICE is likely to further our progress along the path of simplifying the LAAO procedure.