Comparison of Transesophageal Echocardiography Versus Computed Tomography for Detection of Left Atrial Appendage Filling Defect (Thrombus)

Malignant left atrial appendage morphology and embolization risk in atrial fibrillation

Correlation between quantitative left atrial spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and intact fibrinogen levels in mitral stenosis

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Left Atrial Appendage Inversion Presenting as Acute Right Ventricular Failure after Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Key Findings▪Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion has emerged as an alternative strategy to oral anticoagulants in selected patients with atrial fibrillation.▪The landmark trials comparing LAA occlusion to an oral anticoagulation strategy enrolled patients with no apparent contraindications to the use of warfarin.▪LAA occlusion has limited head-to-head comparison against the direct-acting oral anticoagulants.▪Observational data to date have generally shown specific adverse events after LAA occlusion in specific subgroups of patients (women, patients with kidney disease and heart failure, patients belonging to racial/ethnic subgroups and with advanced age), but further large-scale studies are necessary to elucidate reasons for increased adverse events associated with LAA occlusion in these subgroups of patients before recommending this modality as first-line therapy in all patient groups. ▪Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion has emerged as an alternative strategy to oral anticoagulants in selected patients with atrial fibrillation.▪The landmark trials comparing LAA occlusion to an oral anticoagulation strategy enrolled patients with no apparent contraindications to the use of warfarin.▪LAA occlusion has limited head-to-head comparison against the direct-acting oral anticoagulants.▪Observational data to date have generally shown specific adverse events after LAA occlusion in specific subgroups of patients (women, patients with kidney disease and heart failure, patients belonging to racial/ethnic subgroups and with advanced age), but further large-scale studies are necessary to elucidate reasons for increased adverse events associated with LAA occlusion in these subgroups of patients before recommending this modality as first-line therapy in all patient groups.

Successful Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure in the Presence of a Nonobstructive Appendage Membrane

Left Atrial Reduction Plasty: A Novel Technique

Robotic-assisted biatrial Cox-maze ablation for atrial fibrillation

Vascular Dysfunction in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography During Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG): A Major Step Toward Improving Outcomes in Cardiac Surgery

Section 11: Evaluation and Management of Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Transatlantic Editorial: The Use of Multiple Arterial Grafts for Coronary Revascularization in Europe and North America

Prosthesis–patient mismatch and clinical outcomes: The evidence continues to accumulate

Atrial fibrillation

Managing atrial fibrillation in the CRT patient: Controversy or consensus?