Cor Vasa 2005, 46(7-8):289-292

Catheter-based left atrial auricle closure (PLAATO) in patients with atrial fibrillation and at high risk for thromboembolic complications

Petr Neužil^1,*, Vivek Reddy², Tomáš Mráz¹, Pavel Formánek¹, Heyder Omran³, Miloš Táborský¹, Pavel Michálek¹, Zuzana Beldová¹, Daniel Gross¹, Jan Petrů¹, Lucie Šedivá¹, Petr Niederle¹

¹ Kardiologické oddělení a Oddělení anesteziologicko-resuscitační, Nemocnice Na Homolce, Praha, Česká republika

² Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA

³ Kardiologische Abteilung, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany

Thromboembolic complications and, in particular, stroke belong to the most frequent complications associated with atrial fibrillation. Most thrombi during atrial fibrillation will usually occur in the left atrial auricle. Although long-term anticoagulation therapy has been demonstrated to reduce the risk for these complications, its application is currently estimated at some 60% of patients at a high risk for thromboembolism. Our paper discusses the potential utilization of catheter-based left atrial auricle closure as a new method for patients at a high risk for thromboembolism who are either ineligible for long-term anticoagulation therapy (e. g., because of treatment of bleeding complications) or whose treatment has been shown to be ineffective.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Thromboembolic complications; Catheter-based left atrial auricle closure

Published: July 1, 2005  Show citation