Percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage to prevent embolic events in high-risk patients with chronic atrial fibrillation
Background: Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is a novel alternative for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and with a high risk of stroke who are not eligible for long-term anticoagulation therapy. The aim of this study was to asses the safety, feasibility, and long-term efficacy of this procedure. Methods: From July 2004 to June 2007, 20 patients (13 male, mean age 69 ± 8 years) with non–valvular AF (NV-AF) underwent LAA percutaneous closure using the PLAATO™ system, implanted through a transeptal access. All patients had contraindications to anticoagulant therapy and were at high risk for cardioembolic stroke (mean CHADS2 score 3 ± 1.2). A trans…
Predictive Factors, Management, and Clinical Outcomes of Coronary Obstruction Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Objectives This study sought to evaluate the main baseline and procedural characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of patients from a large cohort of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) who suffered coronary obstruction (CO). Background Very little data exist on CO following TAVI. Methods This multicenter registry included 44 patients who suffered symptomatic CO following TAVI of 6,688 patients (0.66%). Pre-TAVI computed tomography data was available in 28 CO patients and in a control group of 345 patients (comparisons were performed including all patients and a cohort matched 1:1 by age, sex, previous coronary artery bypass graft, transcatheter valv…
Anatomical and procedural features associated with aortic root rupture during balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Background— Aortic root rupture is a major concern with balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to identify predictors of aortic root rupture during balloon-expandable TAVR by using multidetector computed tomography. Methods and Results— Thirty-one consecutive patients who experienced left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT)/annular/aortic contained/noncontained rupture during TAVR were collected from 16 centers. A caliper-matched sample of 31 consecutive patients without annular rupture, who underwent pre-TAVR multidetector computed tomography served as a control group. Multidetector computed tomography assessment included short- and long-axis diameters an…