Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Preprocedural and Postprocedural CT Imaging Can Identify Patients at Risk for Complications After LAA Occlusion
- single-center retrospective study
Authors' conclusion
Smaller LAA ostial dimensions and greater device compression (postimplant area change) on CCT were associated with fewer complications post-LAAO. Favorable preimplant LAA ostial morphology seems to be oval shaped and of smaller size. These characteristics could be helpful in predicting better postimplant outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients who underwent left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with Watchman FLX between November 2022 and January 2025 and had both preimplant and postimplant cardiac computed tomography (CCT)
- Participants
- 165 patients
- Exposure
- Patients with vs without adverse events within 90 days
- Those with eventsn = 40
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adverse events:
- Peri-device leak
- Device-related thrombus
- Transient ischemic attack/stroke
Adverse events
40 patients (24.2%)
peri-device leaks
32
device-related thrombi
9
transient ischemic attack
1
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Mean left atrial pressure
Pre-CCT minimum ostial diameter
Postimplant area change
| Outcome | Those with events | Without events |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-CCT LAA ostium maximum diameter | 26.6 | 23.5 |
- Mean left atrial pressure: P = 0.03
- Pre-CCT LAA ostium maximum diameter: P < 0.001
- Pre-CCT minimum ostial diameter: P < 0.001
- Postimplant area change: P < 0.001
Original publication
Preprocedural and Postprocedural CT Imaging Can Identify Patients at Risk for Complications After LAA Occlusion. JACC Adv. Published 7 February 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102523
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it