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Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
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Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Nonagenarians
Pedro Luis Cepas-Guillén, Boris Schmidt, Sergio Berti
1Hospital Clinic; C/Villarroel, 170, Cardiology Department; 08036 Barcelona, Spain. freixa@clinic.cat.
The Journal of Invasive Cardiology
|February 14, 2022
Summary
Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) shows promising safety and efficacy in nonagenarians. This study found successful implantation and no strokes or TIAs during 2-year follow-up for this elderly group.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Nonagenarians represent a rapidly expanding, high-risk demographic.
- Limited data exists on percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) outcomes in this population.
- Atrial fibrillation management in the very elderly presents unique challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of LAAO in nonagenarian patients.
- To analyze procedural success and long-term clinical outcomes.
- To contribute data on LAAO for the oldest segment of the atrial fibrillation population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the prospective global Amplatzer Amulet observational study.
- Inclusion of 9 nonagenarian patients undergoing LAAO.
- 2-year follow-up for procedural adverse events and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Successful Amulet device implantation in all nonagenarian patients.
- One major procedural adverse event: a pseudoaneurysm.
- Absence of ischemic strokes or transient ischemic attacks during the 2-year follow-up period.
Conclusions:
- LAAO appears to be a safe and effective option for stroke risk reduction in nonagenarians with atrial fibrillation.
- Favorable outcomes observed in this small cohort warrant further investigation.
- This study supports considering LAAO for very elderly patients at high risk for stroke.
