Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Complicated by Appendage Perforation Rescued by Device Deployment. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sarcon, Anna; Roy, Dipayon; Laughrun, David; Huntsinger, Mary; Schwartz, Jacqueline; Sohn, Jina; Doshi, Rahul N.
• Is Part Of: Journal of investigative medicine high impact case reports. Volume 6(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: left atrial appendage occlusion -- Watchman -- pericardial effusion; Internal medicine -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Periodicals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1177/2324709618800108
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2324-7096

Abstract

The Watchman device is a transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occluding device used in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and a high CHADS2-VA2SC score who are poor long-term anticoagulation candidates. Pericardial effusion related to device deployment and perforation can be a life-threatening complication. While not common in hands of experienced operators, management may require surgical intervention. Here we present a rare case of LAA perforation, which was corrected by successful repositioning of the device foregoing the need for surgical management.