Key result
Initial results suggest WATCHMAN left atrial appendage occlusion may reduce long-term stroke risk in atrial fibrillation, but prospective randomized studies are needed to prove safety and efficacy.
Why the study?
Does left atrial appendage occlusion reduce the long-term risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who have contraindications to anticoagulation?
Does left atrial appendage occlusion reduce the long-term risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who have contraindications to anticoagulation?
Initial experience suggests LAA occlusion is technically feasible and may reduce stroke risk in AF patients contraindicated for anticoagulation, but prospective randomized trials are needed to confirm long-term safety and efficacy.
Sick PB, Schuler G, Hauptmann KE et al.: Initial worldwide experience with the WATCHMAN left atrial appendage system for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 49(13), 1490-1495 (2007). Left atrium appendage (LAA) occlusion is a potential alternative to warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation who have contraindications to anticoagulation. Currently, there are two devices specifically designed for LAA occlusion: the percutaneous LAA transcatheter occlusion (PLAATO System, ev3 Inc., MN, USA) and the WATCHMAN LAA system (Atritech Inc., MN, USA). Initial results from a study with the WATCHMAN device suggest that the LAA occlusion may reduce the long-term risk for stroke. Available data are still very limited and although occluding the LAA appears to be technically feasible, its long-term safety and ability to reduce stroke incidence remains to be proven. Only prospective randomized studies will be able to tell us if the LAA occlusion devices can be used as an alternative treatment strategy to the standard long-term anticoagulation.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Lerakis et al. (2007) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. WATCHMAN LAA system vs. Warfarin was evaluated on Stroke incidence. Initial results suggest WATCHMAN left atrial appendage occlusion may reduce long-term stroke risk in atrial fibrillation, but prospective randomized studies are needed to prove safety and efficacy.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: