Multimodality Evaluation of LAA Leaks Arising After Incomplete LAAC: Insights From the LAA-Leak Registry

Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Closure (LAAC) is a potent technique of LAA isolation and exclusion for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, with evidence from the PROTECT-AF and PREVAIL-AF trials, including their 5-year follow-up assessments, solidifying LAAC as a viable option in these patients with comparable stroke reduction in comparison to oral anticoagulation (OAC) as well as a reduction in bleeding risk, hemorrhagic CVA, and mortality. However, the surge in the multiple methods of LAA exclusion has also brought to attention postprocedural complications specific to LAAC, namely, peri-device leaks (PDL). The stroke implication and classification of PDL itself still lacks consensus, with an increased thromboembolic (TE) potential due to PDL seen in patients with LARIAT and surgical ligation procedures, yet no statistically significant relationship seen in percutaneous and endocardial LAA closure approaches. PDL > 5mm has been widely accepted as clinically significant, although there remains limited data with no current established guidelines. Placement of a septal occluder device such as Amplatzer Vascular Plug, Detachable embolization coils, Gore Cardioform Septal Occluder (CSO; W.L. Gore and Associates, Newark DE), and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have all emerged as options to resolve residual PDL and post-surgical/ligation leaks. However, there exists no head-to-head comparison between these modalities. Given their emergence, this is a proposed a multi-center observational study to further assess and evaluate these three treatment modalities for their efficacy for leak closure, assessment of pre-, peri- and post-procedural characteristics after leak closure, TE events, and bleeding risk, and complication rates.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients at risk for stroke or thromboembolism that demonstrated any degree of the significant leak on follow up TEE imaging at least 4-6 weeks following either epicardial, endocardial, or surgical LAAC
• Patients undergoing any form of eccentric or centric/central leak closure with available modalities (detachable embolization coils, vascular plus/septal/ASD occluders, or RF Ablation). Criteria for this was made based on the judgement of the operator, with no specific cutoffs for leak size, follow-up time from LAAC to leak closure, etc)
• Age greater than 18 years

Exclusion criteria

• Patients not undergoing leak closure after incomplete LAAC
• Patients unable to complete 45 day follow-up imaging for reevaluation of LAA leak
• Patients unable to consent