Preserved Left Atrial Function Following Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Stroke Prevention

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at high risk of thromboembolism, with most thrombi forming in the left atrial (LA) appendage. LA appendage closure is an alternative therapy to oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF patients with contraindication to oral anticoagulation. LA function is critical for cardiovascular function, and recent studies suggested a direct relationship between LA function and AF recurrence. Deformation imaging characterizes and quantifies myocardial function.

This study aims to investigate the impact of LA appendage closure on LA function in patients with paroxysmal AF.

We studied patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent LA appendage closure in a single-center, retrospective study. Twelve patients (CHA2DS2-VASc score, 4.12 ± 1.1; age, 75.9 ± 6.9 years; 7 men and 5 women) were eligible. Echocardiography-derived LA global longitudinal strain analysis, LA diameter, and LA volume index were determined before and after a 6-month follow-up. All patients were in sinus rhythm during echocardiography. The LA global longitudinal strain was unchanged after LA appendage closure (from -18.9 ± 2.8% to -19.6 ± 2.6%; P=.66). No changes were observed for LA size (from 49.1 ± 6.1 mm to 50.5 ± 5.2 mm; P=.45) or for LA volume index (from 51.6 ± 4.6 mL/m² to 52.1 ± 4.1 mL/m²; P=.49), corroborating unaltered LA function after LA appendage closure.

LA function is crucial for cardiovascular function and recurrence of AF. Our study provides evidence that LA appendage closure preserves LA function, determined by strain imaging in patients with paroxysmal AF and sinus rhythm during echocardiography.