What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage closure.

December 1, 2019Journal of the American College of CardiologyOpen Access

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy in Continued Access Left Atrial Appendage Closure Registries

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Why the study?

Does Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) provide safe and effective long-term therapy in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation?

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage closure.
Utilized the longest and largest follow-up data from continued access registries.
Assessed patients with the Watchman device for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
Confirmed left atrial appendage closure as a safe therapy for long-term anticoagulation.
Documented the lowest rate of hemorrhagic stroke in this patient population.

Structured PICO

Does Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) provide safe and effective long-term therapy in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation?

Population

Patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

Intervention

Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) with the Watchman device

Outcome

Long-term safety and efficacy (including hemorrhagic stroke rate)safety

Long-term registry data supports LAAC as a safe and effective therapy for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, highlighting a very low rate of hemorrhagic stroke.

Implication

Supports LAAC in nonvalvular AF; extends registry data but leaves open need for randomized confirmation.

Abstract

These registries, which contain the longest and largest follow-up data of patients with the Watchman device, support LAAC as a safe and effective therapy for long-term anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, and document the lowest rate of hemorrhagic stroke identified in this population.