Clinical management after surgical left atrial appendage exclusion

Surgical left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is an increasingly utilized approach to mitigate the risk of cardioembolic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Consensus is lacking regarding optimal stroke prevention management after surgical LAA management.

To elucidate real world clinical management of anticoagulation in patients undergoing surgical LAA management.

Over a 7-year period at a single center, 458 participants carried a diagnosis of AF and underwent surgical exclusion of their LAA during concomitant cardiac surgery. Follow-up was catalogued via retrospective chart review; median follow-up was 2 years. Successful LAA ligation was defined as maximal stump depth < 1.0 cm by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) without distal leak.

Among 458 patients, 299 were discharged on OAC (142 DOAC and 157 warfarin). Of these, 31% (94/299) had a follow-up TEE. Among those without a TEE, 32% (65/205) were taken off OAC; among those who underwent TEE, 59% (55/94) were taken off OAC. Using a logistic regression model, there was no relationship between age, sex, CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, or creatinine and the probability of coming off of OAC. Among the 94 patients discharged on OAC who had a follow-up TEE:10 were unable to assess adequacy of closure, 69 were successful, and 15 showed unsuccessful closure. In the group with imaging confirmed successful exclusion of their LAA, 67% (46/69) were taken off their oral anticoagulation, with cessation occurring after the TEE in 93% (43/46) of those patients.

Clinical management after surgical LAA management, particularly with regard to LAA imaging and OAC continuation, is highly heterogeneous.