0000000000261926
AUTHOR
Gian Paolo Ussia
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…
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…