Imaging for percutaneous left atrial appendage closure.

Abstract

Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is increasingly performed worldwide as an alternative to long-term oral anticoagulation, especially for patients who are considered ineligible for anticoagulation. This is a complex procedure with success that hinges upon good understanding of the LAA and surrounding structures anatomy. Multimodality imaging can provide important three-dimensional appreciation of the LAA anatomy, which facilitates procedural safety and success. Thus, proceduralists and imagers involved with LAA closure should have good comprehension of such imaging modalities (cardiac CT angiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and/or intracardiac echocardiography) prior to embarking on this procedure. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.