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NCT Number: NCT06523166

Direct Comparison of Cardiac CT With TEE to Evaluate Watchman FLX LAA Occluder Device Characteristics

The current standard of care for patients who underwent left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is to have follow-up transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) for device surveillance. TEE is an ultrasound of the heart done by placing a probe in the esophagus under conscious sedation. It does not use contrast but can be cumbersome to patients as it involves placing a probe in the esophagus. Cardiac computerized tomography angiography (cardiac CTA) is a non-invasive imaging modality that involves the use of certain types of x-rays, contrast (dye) and special computers to generate accurate images of the heart. Participants in this study will undergo both TEE and CTA on the same day 90 days after their LAAC procedure.

Participants will be in this research study for a period of 1 year, starting from the day of their scheduled LAAC procedure. Participants will undergo a TEE at 90 days after their procedure which is the standard of care imaging study after LAAC. As part of this study, participants will also undergo a cardiac CTA at 90 days as well. Participants will have a routine follow-up visit following device placement as per standard of care as well as a brief phone "check in" at 1 year.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Subjects >18 years old planned to undergo LAAC
  • eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min per 1.73 m2

Exclusion criteria

  • Subjects below the age of 18
  • non-English speaking subjects
  • eGFR < 30 mL/min per 1.73 m2
  • Subjects with history of contrast allergy
  • Pregnant women

Treatment and study plan

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

Procedure

TEE will be performed using a 3D probe. TEE images will be acquired at the standard 0, 45, 90, and 135 degree views along with a 3D acquisition encompassing the entire LAA, device, left pulmonary vein and lateral mitral annular landmarks.

Cardiac CTA

Procedure

Cardiac CTA will be performed with ECG gating using systems with ≥ 64 detector rows and with temporal resolution that is at least 175 msec (rotation speed ≤ 350 msec for single source systems). Cardiac CTA images will be acquired for the entire cardiac cycle without ECG phase specific pulsing and with contrast appropriately timed for peak left atrial/arterial phase contrast enhancement. In addition, a targeted end systolic only delayed phase image set (45 seconds after the arterial phase scan and limited to the left atrium and appendage device) will be acquired.

Primary outcomes

  1. LAA patency percentage associated with peri device leak (PDL) as measured by CT scan/TEE

    Time frame: 3 months post procedure

  2. LAA patency percentage associated with intra device leak (IDL) as measured by CT scan/TEE.

    Time frame: 3 months post procedure

  3. LAA patency percentage associated with a combination of both PDL and IDL as measured by CT scan/TEE.

    Time frame: 3 months post procedure

  4. Number of detected device-related thrombus (DRT) as measured by CT scan/TEE.

    Time frame: 3 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Average size of device measured in millimeters (mm)

    Time frame: 3 months

  2. Percent of compression as measured by CT scan/TEE

    Time frame: 3 months

    Percent compression is comprised by dividing the device diameter over the device size represented as one single score.

  3. Average depth of implant measured in millimeters (mm)

    Time frame: 3 months

  4. Average hypo-attenuated thickening (HAT) measured in millimeters (mm)

    Time frame: 3 months

  5. Number of adverse events as measured by medical record

    Time frame: Up to 7 days

    Adverse events can include respiratory failure requiring intubation or an esophageal perforation from TEE probe insertion or serious contrast related event including anaphylaxis during the CTA or acute renal failure (ARF) requiring dialysis within 7 days of the CTA.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Amy McKnight, RN, BSN, BCCV

CONTACT

[email protected]

216-983-4896

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Other

Collaborators

  • Boston Scientific Corporation

Registry information

Official study title

Direct Comparison of Cardiac CT With TEE to Evaluate Watchman FLX LAA Occluder Device Characteristics: A Multicenter Study

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 26, 2024
Registry last updated
Apr 7, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.