Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure(Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion)Left A-tree-ull App-en-dej Oc-clu-shun
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionThe left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small pouch in the left atrium, the top chamber of the heart. The function of the LAA is not known. A percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) uses a device or sutures to seal the LAA.
Reasons for ProcedureAtrial fibrillation is an abnormal beating of the top part of the heart (atria). People with atrial fibrillation have a high risk of blood clots and stroke. The abnormal beat makes it harder for blood to clear out of the atria and blood pools in the LAA. Blood clots can develop in the pooled blood, can leave the heart and travel to the brain where it can cause a stroke. Medications are a common option to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke, but not all people can tolerate the medication or its side effects. An LAAC may be an alternative for people with atrial fibrillation who cannot take anticoagulant medications. LAAC closes off the left atrial appendage to prevent blood from pooling in the area. Most blood clots in the heart develop in the left atrial appendage. Sealing off the area will decrease the chance of clots and stroke. Possible ComplicationsProblems from the procedure are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review potential problems, like:
Before your procedure, talk to your doctor about ways to manage factors that may increase your risk of complications such as:
What to ExpectPrior to ProcedureYour doctor may do the following:
In the days leading up to your procedure:
AnesthesiaLocal or general anesthesia may be used. Local anesthesia will numb where the catheter is inserted. With general anesthesia, you will be asleep during the procedure. You may also be given a sedative before the procedure to help you relax. Description of the ProcedureThis method only needs a small incision which can decrease risks and recovery time compared to open procedures with large incisions. A small incision will be made over a vein in the groin. A tube called a catheter will be placed into the vein and passed through blood vessels to the heart. An imaging machine will help the doctor see exactly where the catheter is in the body. Tools or devices will be passed through the catheter to complete the work. The exact steps will depend on the type of LAAC. Some options include:
Once the procedure is done the catheter(s) will be removed. Pressure will be applied to the incision to stop bleeding and a bandage will be placed over the area. How Long Will It Take?1-2 hours Will It Hurt?Anesthesia will prevent pain during the procedure. You will have some pain in the chest and at the insertion site after the procedure. Your doctor will recommend medications to help manage the pain. Post-procedure CareAt the Care Center Right after the procedure, a weight will be placed over your leg for a time to help the vein close. The staff will check your vital signs and monitor you for any bleeding. Images will be taken to ensure the device is correctly placed. During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection such as:
There are also steps you can take to reduce your chance of infection such as:
At Home Most will return to normal activities within the first few days. Follow-up visits will be needed starting at 45 days to make sure the area has sealed off. Once the area is sealed, anticoagulant medication can be stopped. Most will be able to stop medication by 1 year. Yearly tests will be needed to make sure the closure device is in place. Call Your DoctorIt is important to monitor your recovery. Alert your doctor to any problems. If any of the following occur, call your doctor:
Call for emergency medical services right away if you notice any of the following symptoms of a stroke:
If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away. RESOURCES:American Heart Association http://www.heart.org National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Heart Rhythm Society http://www.chrsonline.ca Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada http://www.heartandstroke.ca References:Answers to common questions about left atrial appendage closure. Seconds Count website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed November 28, 2017. Benefits and risks of left atrial appendage closure. Seconds Count website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed November 28, 2017. Left atrial appendage and closure. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/left-atrial-appendage-closure. Updated June 2017. Accessed November 28, 2017. Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). Seconds Count website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed November 28, 2017. Shehata M, Yeo WL, Kar S. Device interventions for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2014;129:e360-e362. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Watchman procedure. UPMC Pinnacle website. Available at: https://www.pinnaclehealth.org/services-and-resources/our-services/heart-and-vascular-care/cardiac-services/atrial-fibrillation-program/watchman-procedures. Accessed November 28, 2017. Last reviewed November 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Michael J. Fucci, DO, FACC Last Updated: 2/8/2017 |
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