Key result
Combined LAAC and catheter ablation appears safe and effective for selected non-valvular AF patients.
Why the study?
The study aimed to summarize the scientific evidence backing the combined strategy of left atrial appendage closure alongside concomitant AF transcatheter ablation.
Is the combined procedure of left atrial appendage closure and AF transcatheter ablation safe and effective in patients with nonvalvular AF?
Is the combined procedure of left atrial appendage closure and AF transcatheter ablation safe and effective in patients with nonvalvular AF?
A review of existing literature suggests that combining left atrial appendage closure with AF transcatheter ablation is a safe and effective strategy for selected patients with nonvalvular AF.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports combined LAA closure and ablation in selected nonvalvular AF; leaves open need for randomized confirmation before broader adoption.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide; it poses a great burden in terms of quality of life reduction and yearly stroke risk. Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is a stroke prevention strategy that has been proven a viable alternative to antithrombotic regimens in nonvalvular AF patients. LAAC can be performed as a standalone procedure or alongside a concomitant AF transcatheter ablation, in a procedure known as "Combined procedure". Aim of this study is to summarize the scientific evidence backing this combined strategy. METHODS: We reviewed the whole Medline indexed combined procedure literature, to summarize all the combined procedure study data. RESULTS: Nine published studies regarding combined procedure were found. Data, aims, and scientific rationales were reported and commented. CONCLUSION: LAA combined procedure appears to be a safe and effective procedure; a careful patient selection is necessary to maximize its benefit.
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Gasperetti et al. (2019) conducted a review in Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation. Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) combined with transcatheter ablation was evaluated. The combined left atrial appendage closure and transcatheter ablation procedure appears to be a safe and effective strategy for selected patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
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