Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Combined pulsed field ablation of atrial fibrillation and left atrial appendage occlusion: A single-center experience
Authors' conclusion
Combined PFA and LAAO was feasible with high implant success, low periprocedural complication rates, and favorable outcomes through 1 year.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing combined pulsed field ablation (PFA) and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) (Watchman FLX Pro) in a single procedure, March–October 2024all had 1-year follow-up
- Participants
- 45 patients
- Outcome
- Procedural feasibility, safety and outcomes of combined PFA and LAAO
- Follow-up
- 1 year
Methodological detailssingle-centre, consecutive patients
- Single-centre
- Consecutive patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Implant success
44 patients
98%
Median procedural time (IQR 80-107 minutes)
90 minutes
Median fluoroscopy time (IQR 18-30 minutes)
24 minutes
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Complete seal (0 mm peridevice leak) · 45 days
- Complete seal
- 41 patients (93%)
- n = 44
Imaging at 1 year
- Imaging performed
- 20 (44.45)
- Complete seal
- 18 (90%)
- Minor peridevice leak (≤3 mm)
- 2 (10%)
- No device-related thrombus or device embolization
Safety
Periprocedural complications
- Pericarditis
- 1 patient
- Deaths, strokes, major bleeding, pericardial effusions requiring intervention
- 0
Events during follow-up · 1 year
- Pericardial effusion requiring intervention
- 1
- Major gastrointestinal bleeding
- 1
Device-related thrombus · 45 days
- Device-related thrombus, resolved with DOAC and absent at 1 year
- 1
Original publication
Combined pulsed field ablation of atrial fibrillation and left atrial appendage occlusion: A single-center experience. Heart Rhythm. Published 16 December 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it