2.1 Study design and patient population
All consecutive NVAF patients at high risk of stroke (CHA2DS2-VASc
scoresā„2) underwent LAmbre (Lifetech Scientific, Shenzhen, China)
occluders implantation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou
Medical University from August 2018 to July 2019 were enrolled in this
study. All the procedures were performed under local anesthesia. There
were 40 cases in the ICE group, including 23 cases with combined
catheter ablation and LAAC in a single operation. There were 50 cases in
the TEE group, including 28 cases with combined procedures. Another 12
patients underwent LAAC with both ICE and TEE imaging. All patients
received pre-procedural TEE to assess LAA anatomy and to exclude LAA
thrombus. Written informed consent was obtained from all the
participants and the study was approved by ethical committee of the
local institution.