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Thrombus formation after left atrial appendage exclusion using an amplatzer cardiac plug device
Author(s) -
CruzGonzalez Ignacio,
Martín Moreiras Javier,
García Eulogio
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
catheterization and cardiovascular interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1522-726X
pISSN - 1522-1946
DOI - 10.1002/ccd.23126
Subject(s) - medicine , thrombus , contraindication , transesophageal echocardiogram , atrial fibrillation , stroke (engine) , cardiology , clopidogrel , cardiac catheterization , left atrial appendage occlusion , surgery , warfarin , myocardial infarction , mechanical engineering , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
Abstract The feasibility and safety of left atrial appendage closure with the Amplatzer cardiac plug (AGA Medical Corp., Minneapolis, MN) have been recently published; no thrombus formation on the device surface has been reported previously. We describe a case of a 66‐year‐old man with permanent atrial fibrillation, previous stroke, and contraindication for long‐term oral anticoagulant therapy. A 22‐mm ACP device was deployed successfully without complications. The patient was discharged on acetyl salicylic acid 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg daily. After 4 weeks, the patient was admitted for a lower gastrointestinal bleeding and clopidogrel was stopped. A 3‐month follow‐up echocardiogram confirmed the exclusion of the LAA but it demonstrated the presence of a thrombus on the atrial surface of the device. It was decided to keep the patient on acetyl salicylic acid 100 mg with the addition of enoxaparin 60 mg bid. Transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated total resolution of the thrombus after 2 months. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.