Left atrial appendage amputation concomitant with cardiac surgery in patients with sinus rhythm

OBJECTIVES: Since recent data demonstrated the benefit of the amputation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) in patients with atrial fibrillation, the long-term impact of LAA amputation on stroke rate and mortality in patients with no history of atrial fibrillation is still unknown. METHODS: Patients with no history of atrial fibrillation who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting by the off-pump technique between 2014 and 2016 were examined retrospectively. Cohorts were divided by the concomitant execution of LAA amputation, and propensity score matching was applied by baseline characteristics. The stroke rate in a 5-year follow-up served as the primary end point. Secondary end points were the mortality rate and rehospitalization in the same time span. RESULTS: A total of 1,522 patients were enrolled, of whom 1,267 and 255 were included in the control group and in the LAA amputation group, respectively. These were matched to 243 patients in each group. In total, patients with an LAA amputation showed a significantly lower rate of stroke in a 5-year follow-up [7.0% vs 2.9%, hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval (0.17; 0.98), p = 0.045]. However, there was no difference in all-cause mortality (P = 0.23) or rehospitalizations (P = 0.68). Subgroup analysis revealed LAA amputation in patients with a CHA2DS2VASc [congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled), vascular disease, age 65 to 74 and sex category (female)] score of ≥3 to be associated with a reduction of stroke [9.4% vs 3.1%, hazard ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval [0.12; 0.92], P = 0.034]. CONCLUSIONS: LAA amputation concomitant with cardiac surgery reduces the stroke rate in patients with no history of atrial fibrillation and a high CHA2DS2VASc score (≥3) in a 5-year follow-up.