Key result
Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion using the Watchman device resulted in device embolization 10 minutes post-implantation, requiring emergency cardiac surgery.
Case Report (n=1)
Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion with the Watchman device can result in serious complications such as device embolization requiring emergency cardiac surgery.
Alerts clinicians to acute embolization risk post-Watchman; leaves open predictors of device stability in larger cohorts.
Left atrial appendage (LAA) elimination is regarded to protect patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) from stroke or embolism. The Watchman occluder is a device for percutaneous LAA occlusion and is at present investigated in the PROTECT AF trial. In a 78-year-old man, embolization of the Watchman device occurred 10 minutes after implantation. At emergency cardiac surgery, the device was removed from the aortic valve and an aortic bioprosthesis and a pacemaker had to be implanted. One year postoperatively, he still suffers from heart failure. This case shows that percutaneous LAA occlusion may result in serious complications.
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Stöllberger et al. (2007) conducted a case report in Atrial fibrillation (n=1). Watchman left atrial appendage occluder was evaluated on Device embolization and complications. Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion using the Watchman device resulted in device embolization 10 minutes post-implantation, requiring emergency cardiac surgery.
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