Abstract 11688: Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and cancer is challenging as patients are at increased bleeding and thrombotic risk. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has evolved as a promising strategy for stroke prevention with protentional to reduce bleeding risk, though no data exists on its efficacy in patients with cancer. Hypothesis: LAAO is a safe and effective strategy for reducing stroke and bleeding risk in cancer patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who underwent LAAO at all Mayo Clinic sites from 2017-2020 and identified those who had undergone prior or current treatment for cancer. Baseline demographics, malignancy history, atrial fibrillation parameters, procedural success/complications, stroke and bleeding incidence and major adverse cardiac events were ascertained. Results: 55 patients were included in the study; 44 (80.0%) were male and mean age was 79.0 ± 6.1 years. Most common primary malignancies included prostate cancer (29.1%), oropharyngeal cancer (12.7%), and melanoma (10.9%) with 15 (27.3%) having metastatic disease and 14 (25.5%) patients having active malignancy at device implant. Mean CHA2DS2-Vasc score was 4.9 ± 1.3, with 47 (85.5%) patients having a prior bleeding event. Acute procedural success was achieved in all patients with 30-day complications including 4 (7.3%) with vascular access site bleeding, 1 (1.8%) with pericarditis and 1 (1.8%) with a seizure. At a follow up of 1.8 ± 1.1 years, ischemic stroke occurred in 2 (3.6%) patients with bleeding complications in 5 (9.1%) patients. Device related complications occurred in 6 (10.9%) patients with 4 (7.3%) with device thrombosis and 2 (3.6%) with a peri-device leak. Death occurred in 14 (25.5%) patients most commonly due to malignancy progression (9.1%) and infection (7.3%). Conclusions: In our study cohort, LAAO in patients with cancer was achieved with excellent procedural success and offered reasonable reduction in stroke and bleeding risk. Mortality was high likely due to the age of the patients studied, underlying malignancy and comorbidities. Further studies are needed to investigate the prevalence of device thrombosis in cancer patients.