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Updated: Oct 26, 2025

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Spontaneous Left Atrial Thrombus Formation on the Catheter Delivery System During WATCHMAN Implantation
Hiren Patel1, Luis R Castellanos2, Eugene Golts3
1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship Program, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California.
Insights
A rare complication of spontaneous thrombus formation on the WATCHMAN delivery system occurred in both systemic circulations. Percutaneous vacuum-assisted aspiration successfully removed the thrombus, highlighting a multidisciplinary team approach.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Device Complications
Background:
- The WATCHMAN device is used for left atrial appendage closure.
- Complications associated with cardiovascular devices require careful management.
- Spontaneous thrombus formation is a potential, albeit rare, adverse event.
Abstract:
We present a rare complication of spontaneous thrombus formation on the WATCHMAN delivery system, on both the right- and left-sided systemic circulation. We also describe the multidisciplinary team approach and the use of percutaneous vacuum-assisted aspiration system (AngioVac, AngioDynamics, Latham, New York) for successful thrombus removal. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
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