Pulmonary ridge coverage and device-related thrombosis after left atrial appendage occlusion

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pulmonary ridge (PR) coverage on both clinical and imaging follow-up outcomes in patients undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO).

Methods and results: The study included consecutive patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who underwent LAAO with disc and lobe devices. Patients were classified into two groups according to the PR coverage. A total of 147 patients were included. Among these, the PR was covered in 109 (74%) and uncovered in 38 (26%). Successful implantation was achieved in 98.6%. No differences in procedural outcomes were observed between the groups. The rate of procedural major adverse events was 3% (only major bleedings and/or vascular access complications). No device embolisation, cardiac tamponade or in-hospital mortality was observed. After a mean follow-up of 1.77±2.2 years, the annualised ischaemic stroke and major bleeding rate was 1.3%/year and 6.5%/year, respectively, without differences between groups. At follow-up, patients with a covered PR presented a lower incidence of device-related thrombosis (DRT) (1%) than those with an uncovered PR (27%); p<0.001. In multivariable analysis, the presence of PR coverage emerged as an independent predictor of DRT.

Conclusions: Pulmonary ridge coverage was associated with a lower incidence of DRT after LAAO. Procedural and follow-up clinical outcomes did not differ between covered PR and uncovered PR patients.