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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Complicated by Appendage Perforation Rescued by Device Deployment
Anna Sarcon1, Dipayon Roy1, David Laughrun1
1University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Abstract:
The Watchman device is a transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occluding device used in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and a high CHADS2-VA2SC score who are poor long-term anticoagulation candidates. Pericardial effusion related to device deployment and perforation can be a life-threatening complication. While not common in hands of experienced operators, management may require surgical intervention. Here we present a rare case of LAA perforation, which was corrected by successful repositioning of the device foregoing the need for surgical management.
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