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Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Intraoperative echocardiographic contrast opacifies the left atrial appendage and assists in surgical exclusion
Jeans M Santana1, Frank M Rosell2, Bhawana Dave3
1Department of Anesthesiology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 6, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Surgical exclusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation is frequently incomplete and remains to be optimized. We present a man who did not tolerate anticoagulant and failed percutaneous occlusion. Intraoperative echocardiographic contrast was used to assist surgical exclusion. Follow-up showed a persistent occlusion.
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