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Updated: Sep 23, 2025
The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Left Atrial Appendage Closure with the LAmbre Device - Initial Multicentre Experience in Brazil
Francisco Chamié1,2, Enio Guerios3, Daniel Peralta E Silva1,2
1Hospital Federal dos Servidores do Estado - Cardiologia Intervencionista, Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Brasil.
Background:
Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure has been an alternative to oral anticoagulation (OAC) for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).
Objectives:
To report the first results of an initial multicenter experience in Brazil and to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of LAA closure with the new LAmbre device.
Methods:
We collected procedural and follow-up data of 51 consecutive patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, restrictions for long-term OAC and suitable anatomy that underwent LAA closure with the LAmbre device in 18 centers in Brazil. Procedural indications were significant bleeding under OAC (47.1%), stroke or persistent LAA thrombus despite OAC (27.5%), bleeding plus stroke (17.6%), other clinical contraindications for OAC (5.9%), and patient's choice due to sports practice (1.9%).
Results:
Twenty-five men (49%) and 26 women (51%), with a mean age of 76±7.7 years, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score of 4.6± 1.7 and mean HAS-BLED score of 3.4± 1.1 were studied. Procedural success rate was 100%. Procedure-related immediate complications were pericardial effusion in two patients, and immediate device embolization in one case. No large residual shunts (> 5 mm) were observed, and small shunts (<5mm) were detected in four patients by color Doppler at the end of the procedure. After a mean follow-up of 18 ± 12 months, there were no deaths, strokes nor any other major complications.
Conclusion:
LAA occlusion with the LAmbre device was safe and effective in this small case series. Despite these encouraging initial results, the small number of cases warrants further studies with longer-term follow-up.
