Devi Nair, MD, FACC, FHRS, director of cardiac electrophysiology at St. Bernard's Healthcare, Jonesboro, Arkansas, explains some of the recent advances in transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion technology at the 2022 Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics (TVT) Structural Heart Summit.
She discusses the two FDA cleared LAA occlusion (LAAO) devices, the Boston Scientific Watchman FLX and the Abbott Amulet, and new devices in development or already in trials. These include the CLAAS Conformal, Laminar, LAmbre and devices that may combine ablation with LAAO.
Nair also discusses use of CT imaging to help size and preplan the LAA closure procedures and how transesophageal echo (TEE) and now 3D/4D intra-cardioac echo (ICE) can play a role in procedure guidance.
LAAO is a device implant to close the LAA in select atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients so they can reduce or no longer take anticoagulation drugs or other blood thinners. LAAO is often considered in patients at high risk for bleeding.
Read more in the LAA occlusion update article from TVT 2022 — New LAA occluder technology and the debate on echo vs. CT image guidance
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Abbott’s LAA closure solution for AFib patients gains FDA approval
What peridevice leaks after LAAO mean for patient health
Key interventional cardiology takeaways from ACC.22
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Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: dfornell@innovatehealthcare.com