Surgical left atrial appendage closure via excision yielded a significantly higher success rate than suture or stapler exclusion (73% vs 23% and 0%, respectively; p<0.001).
Cohort (n=137)
Does surgical LAA excision improve successful closure rates compared to exclusion techniques in patients undergoing surgical LAA closure?
Surgical LAA excision is significantly more successful at achieving complete closure compared to suture or stapler exclusion techniques, which are associated with high failure and thrombus rates.
Absolute Event Rate: 73% vs 23%
p-value: p=<0.001
OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine which surgical technique of left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is most successful by assessing them with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for stroke, with 90% of clots occurring in the LAA. Several surgical techniques of LAA closure are used to theoretically reduce the stroke risk, with varying success rates. METHODS: A total of 137 of 2,546 patients who underwent surgical LAA closure from 1993 to 2004 had a TEE after surgery. Techniques consisted of either excision or exclusion by sutures or stapling. The TEE measurements included color Doppler flow in the LAA and interrogation for thrombus. Patent LAA, remnant LAA (residual stump >1 cm), or excluded LAA with persistent flow into the LAA were identified as unsuccessful closure. RESULTS: Of the 137 patients, 52 (38%) underwent excision and 85 (62%) underwent exclusion (73 suture and 12 stapler). Only 55 of 137 (40%) of closures were successful. Successful LAA closure occurred more often with excision (73%) than suture exclusion (23%) and stapler exclusion (0%) (p < 0.001). We found LAA thrombus to be present in 28 of 68 patients (41%) with unsuccessful LAA exclusion versus none with excision. At time of TEE, 6 patients with successful LAA closure (11%) and 12 with unsuccessful closure (15%) had evidence of stroke/transient ischemic attack (p = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high occurrence of unsuccessful surgical LAA closure. Of the various techniques, excision appears to be the most successful.
Kanderian et al. (Mon,) conducted a cohort in Atrial fibrillation (n=137). Surgical LAA closure via excision vs. Surgical LAA closure via suture exclusion was evaluated on Successful LAA closure (absence of patent LAA, remnant LAA >1 cm, or persistent flow) (p=<0.001). Surgical left atrial appendage closure via excision yielded a significantly higher success rate than suture or stapler exclusion (73% vs 23% and 0%, respectively; p<0.001).