Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Feasibility and safety of combined left atrial appendage occlusion and catheter ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation with left atrial appendage thrombus: The COAT procedure
- single-center retrospective proof-of-concept cohort
Authors' conclusion
In this small, selected proof-of-concept cohort, COAT appeared feasible and was not associated with observed major complications. Larger prospective studies are required.
Study context
- Population
- Selected patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure, and persistent left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) despite therapeutic oral anticoagulationpatients who underwent COAT between January 2022 and April 2026
- Participants
- 5 patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
All 5 procedures were completed successfully, with first-attempt device deployment and pulmonary vein isolation in all patients
5
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Complete LAA sealing without device-related thrombus on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) · median imaging follow-up of 58 days
- patients with complete LAA sealing without device-related thrombus
- 4
- patient declined TEE and cardiac computed tomography angiography
- 1
Transition to lifelong single antiplatelet therapy
- patients with TEE follow-up transitioned from anticoagulation to lifelong single antiplatelet therapy
- 4
Arrhythmia-free
- patients remained arrhythmia-free
- 4
Safety
Periprocedural stroke, transient ischemic attack, systemic embolism, major bleeding, pericardial tamponade/effusion, device embolization, or death
- None occurred
Thromboembolic or major bleeding events during follow-up
- None occurred
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it