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Updated: Nov 2, 2025
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Left atrial appendage perforation during appendage angiography treated by percutaneous left atrial appendage closure:
Catherine Champagne1, Nicolas Dognin1, Josep Rodés-Cabau1
1Department of Cardiology, Québec Heart and Lung Institute, 2725 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec City, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada.
Insights
Pericardial effusion after left atrial appendage closure can be managed by device deployment to stop bleeding. This case report details a novel technique for managing this complication.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Pericardial effusion is a known complication of percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure.
- Prompt management is crucial, often necessitating intervention interruption.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old male developed acute pericardial effusion post-pigtail contrast injection during LAA closure.
- A 10 mm effusion was noted, requiring immediate intervention.
Findings:
- Rapid deployment of a Watchman Flex 24 mm device successfully halted the bleeding.
- Subsequent needle pericardiocentesis was performed to prevent hemodynamic compromise.
Implications:
- This case highlights an unusual cause of pericardial effusion during LAA closure.
- Device deployment offers a viable method for controlling acute bleeding complications in LAA procedures.
Background:
Pericardial effusion is a common complication of percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure. Acute management is the cornerstone of pericardial effusion treatment and interrupting the intervention is often required.
Case Summary:
A 65-year-old man presented an acute 10 mm pericardial effusion following pigtail contrast appendage injection. A rapid Watchman Flex 24 mm (Boston Scientific) deployment permitted bleeding interruption. A needle pericardiocentesis was achieved in order to prevent any haemodynamical instability.
Discussion:
This case report describes an atypical cause of pericardial effusion and a technique for bleeding control with LAA closure device deployment.
