Left atrial appendage occlusion procedure and blood drawing
Patients receiving vitamin K antagonist (VKA) or novel oral
anticoagulation (NOAC) on a long term-basis were eligible if their
anticoagulation was stable within the previous 3 months. Before
procedure, bridge therapy was performed. VKAs was interrupted 5 days and
NOAC was interrupted minimum 2 days before LAAO procedure and switched
to low molecular heparin (LMWH).
All left atrial appendage occlusion were performed using epicardial
devices: 72.7% cases were performed with Lariat device (SentreHEART
Inc, Redwood, CA, USA) and 27.3% cases were performed using AtriClip
(AtriCure, Inc., West Chester, PA, USA).
LAAO procedure with Lariat device use pericardial access obtained via a
telescoping-micropuncture technique at the beginning of the procedure
followed by femoral venous access and was described in detail in our
previous study 8-10.
LAAO procedure with AtriClip device was performed by a stand-alone
totally thoracoscopic left atrial appendage exclusion using minimally
invasive approach was also described elsewhere11
Day after procedure in all patients LMWH was continued till patient
hospital discharge. All patients were discharged on aspirin monotherapy
(150mg/day).