Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging

Korean Society of Echocardiography (한국심초음파학회)
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Heart within a Heart

  • Jain, Tarun (Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital) ;
  • Shah, Jainil (Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital) ;
  • Shah, Sunay (Department of Cardiology, Henry Ford Hospital) ;
  • Modi, Shalini (Department of Cardiology, Henry Ford Hospital)
  • Received : 2015.06.24
  • Accepted : 2016.02.01
  • Published : 2016.03.27
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Abstract

Device based closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) has emerged as a viable approach for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with contraindications to chronic oral anticoagulation. One of the most feared complications is device related thrombus formation. We present a 66-year-old male with chronic AF who developed a life-threatening intracranial bleed on oral anti-coagulation. He subsequently underwent LAA closure using an Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect closure device for stroke prevention. However, he was found to have a large thrombus attached to the device a year later. We present a review of the various LAA closure devices, importance of periodic surveillance via echocardiography and management options to prevent this complication. Also, the case highlights the importance of contrast-enhance echocardiography in diagnosis of LAA closure device thrombus.

Keywords

References

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