Left atrial appendage occlusion device causing coronary obstruction: A word of caution

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

33.7K

Boris Kuzmin1, Thorsten Staack1, Jens Wippermann1

  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.

Journal of Cardiac Surgery
|December 17, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Left atrial appendage occlusion using an AtriClip can cause delayed coronary artery obstruction. Surgeons should position the AtriClip away from the appendage base to prevent myocardial infarction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Interventional Cardiology

Background:

  • Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a common procedure for atrial fibrillation patients.
  • The AtriClip is an established extracardiac device for LAAO.
  • Minimally invasive LAAO has been linked to acute circumflex artery obstruction.

Observation:

  • This report details a case of delayed circumflex artery obstruction after open-heart surgery.
  • A patient developed myocardial infarction 24 hours post-mitral/tricuspid valve surgery and AtriClip implantation.
  • Cardiac catheterization revealed circumflex artery obstruction at the AtriClip device level.

Findings:

  • Delayed coronary artery obstruction occurred after AtriClip implantation during open-heart surgery.
  • Percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting successfully treated the circumflex artery stenosis.
  • The AtriClip device was implicated as the cause of the delayed obstruction.

Implications:

  • Surgeons must be aware of the potential for delayed coronary artery obstruction with AtriClip.
  • Device placement should be carefully considered to avoid proximity to the circumflex artery origin.
  • This finding emphasizes the importance of anatomical awareness during LAAO procedures to prevent cardiac complications.

Keywords:
NSTEMIcardiac complicationscoronary artery stenosisleft atrial appendage occlusion

More Related Videos

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

84.1K
Direct Re-implantation of Left Coronary Artery into the Aorta in Adults with Anomalous Origin of Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery ALCAPA13:10

Direct Re-implantation of Left Coronary Artery into the Aorta in Adults with Anomalous Origin of Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery ALCAPA

Published on: April 24, 2017

18.9K

Related Concept Videos

Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations01:19

Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

The pathophysiology of Acute Coronary Syndrome [ACD] involves several key processes:The main underlying cause of ACD is atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the buildup of lipid-laden plaques within the coronary arteries.As the atherosclerotic plaque grows in the coronary artery, it may become unstable due to the formation of a lipid-rich core and a thin fibrous cap. Inflammatory cells within the plaque, such as macrophages, secrete enzymes that degrade the...
157