Left atrial appendage closure: Initial experience with the ultraseal device

OBJECTIVES: We report the initial experience of percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure with the Ultraseal device. BACKGROUND: LAA closure is an alternative to oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and high risk of bleeding. The Ultraseal device is a new LAA closure prosthesis that consists of a distal soft bulb and a proximal sail attached by an articulating joint that allows a high degree of device conformability to the different variations of the LAA anatomy. METHODS: We included 12 consecutive patients with NVAF who underwent LAA closure with the Ultraseal device between January and December 2015 in our center. Patients had clinical and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examinations at baseline and at 45 days following LAA closure. RESULTS: The device was successfully implanted in all patients, with no periprocedural complications. There were no episodes of bleeding, stroke, pericardial effusion, or device embolization at 45-day follow-up. No cases with residual leaks >5 mm were observed at TEE. One patient presented a device related thrombus without clinical consequences. CONCLUSIONS: This initial experience with the Ultraseal LAA closure device demonstrates preliminary safety and feasibility. Further larger studies with longer follow-up are warranted.