Safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage occlusion with the ACP or Watchman device guided by intracardiac echocardiography from the left atrium

Background There is a paucity of randomized data regarding the safety and efficacy of the use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) from the left atrium (LA) to guide left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures under local anesthesia using either of the available devices. Hypothesis The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of ICE from the LA with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for guidance during transcatheter LAAO procedures. Methods Single-center, cohort study of patients undergoing LAAO with the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug or Watchman device. Procedures were guided by ICE from the LA with local anesthesia (n = 175) or TEE under general anesthesia (n = 49). Efficacy outcomes were procedural success and peri-device leaks 6 weeks after LAAO. The safety outcome was a composite of procedure-related complications. Results Procedural success was similar between groups: 100% in the TEE-guided group, and 98% in the ICE-guided group. Procedure-related complications such as death, embolism, migration, or major vascular complications occurred similarly between groups (p = 0.590). The rate and degree of peri-device leaks or presence of a thrombus on the device did not differ between groups on follow-up CT. Turnover time in the catheter laboratory and use of contrast agent were reduced with ICE. Conclusions ICE in the left atrium to guide LAAO procedures appears to be as effective and safe as TEE. There was no increase in procedure-related complications, whatever the device used. ICE resulted in similar procedural success while decreasing procedure time and requiring only local anesthesia.