Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute (Miller Family) Outcomes
Arrhythmia
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: Complications Through 7 Days Postprocedure
March 2015 – December 2021, N = 912
Of the 912 procedures, there were 17 complications (1.9%) through 7 days post procedure in patients who had a Watchman™ left atrial appendage occlusion device implanted at Cleveland Clinic from March 2015 through December 2021.
LAAO = left atrial appendage occlusion
Source: EP Database and NCDR LAAO Registry
ᵃEWOLUTION, PROTECT-AF, CAP, and PREVAIL are published LAAO registries.
Patients with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of stroke due to blood clots that form in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Cleveland Clinic’s Atrial Fibrillation Stroke Prevention Center is staffed by specialists who have extensive experience in the use of devices to close off the LAA to reduce this risk. For more information, click on the following links: left atrial appendage closure (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17167-left-atrial-appendage--closure) and Atrial Fibrillation Stroke Prevention Center (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/heart/depts/atrial-fibrillation-stroke-prevention-center).
Discontinuation of Oral Anticoagulants: Within 6 Months After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Procedure
January 2019 – June 2021
Among patients who had a left atrial appendage occlusion device implanted at Cleveland Clinic from January 2019 through June 2021, 92.7% stopped taking oral anticoagulants within 6 months after the procedure.
| Patients implanted with a Watchman™ device | Patients who stopped oral anticoagulants within 6 months | Percent stopped within 6 months |
|---|---|---|
| 452 | 419 | 92.7% |
Source: NCDR LAAO Registry
