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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
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Overcoming barriers for left atrial appendage thrombus: a systematic review of left atrial appendage closure
Zixi Zhang1, Jiabao Zhou1, Qiuzhen Lin1
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Renmin Road, Furong District, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
|March 22, 2024
Summary
Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) shows preliminary safety and effectiveness for patients with left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT), despite contraindications. Further large-scale trials are needed to confirm these findings for clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) is a common complication in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, persisting in 8% of patients despite anticoagulation.
- Current guidelines contraindicate left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) for patients with LAAT.
- The safety and feasibility of LAAC in this patient group remain underexplored.
Conclusions:
- LAAC demonstrates preliminary effectiveness and safety in patients with persistent LAAT.
- Further large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary.
- Future research should investigate varied LAAT characteristics and LAAC device types for evidence-based clinical decision-making.
Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationLeft atrial appendage closureLeft atrial appendage thrombusSystematic review
