Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Cardiac computed tomography following Watchman FLX implantation: device-related thrombus or device healing?
Authors' conclusion
Subfabric hypoattenuation and flat sessile HAT are frequent CT findings for Watchman FLX, likely representing benign device healing and endothelialization. Pedunculated HAT and protruding HAT are infrequent CT findings that might represent DRT.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with successful Watchman FLX implantation and follow-up cardiac computed tomography (CT), March 2019 to September 2021
- Participants
- 244 patients
- Outcome
- Cardiac CT findings after Watchman FLX implantation, focused on hypoattenuated thickening (HAT) and device-related thrombosis (DRT)
Methodological detailssingle-centre, observational, blinded CT analysis
- Single-centre
- Observational
- Blinded CT analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
HAT on follow-up cardiac CT
- Hypoattenuated thickening (HAT) present
- 156 (64%)
- Subfabric hypoattenuation
- n = 59
- Flat sessile HAT
- n = 78
- Protruding sessile HAT
- n = 16
- Pedunculated HAT
- n = 3
- High-grade HAT (all pedunculated HAT and five protruding sessile HAT)
- n = 7
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Histology of explanted devices (canine model)
- Subfabric hypoattenuation and flat sessile HAT correlated with device healing and endothelialization
Original publication
Cardiac computed tomography following Watchman FLX implantation: device-related thrombus or device healing? Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 7 November 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →