Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
The SIMPLE registry: SIMplified approach for percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) Exclusion
- retrospective multicenter collection of patients
Authors' conclusion
The evolution of the pigtail-only modified LAA ligation approach is feasible, safe, and effective at LAA closure. Future studies are still needed to assess the long-term LAA closure efficacy of this modified LAA ligation approach.
Study context
- Population
- Patients who underwent a modified (pigtail-only) percutaneous epicardial LAA ligation approach with the LARIAT snare21 centers, underwent attempted modified LAA ligation
- Participants
- 104 patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Short-term complete LAA closure
Complete LAA closure (91/94)
96.8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
LAA ligation failure owing to adhesions
- Patients with failed LAA ligation owing to adhesions
- 8
Conversion to magnet wires
- Patients converted to magnet wires
- 2
- Successful LAA ligation after conversion
- 1
- Unsuccessful LAA ligation after conversion (perforation of the magnet wires)
- 1
Complete LAA closure on follow-up imaging · 6 weeks-3 months post ligation
- Complete LAA closure among patients with follow-up imaging (86/90)
- 95.5%
- No leaks >3 mm were observed
- Among patients with follow-up imaging (90/104)
Safety
Periprocedural complications (<7 days)
- No periprocedural complications
Delayed inflammatory pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis
- Patients with delayed inflammatory pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis
- 3
- Of these, also underwent combined ablation
- 2
Original publication
The SIMPLE registry: SIMplified approach for percutaneous LAA Exclusion. Heart Rhythm. Published 15 May 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.04.065
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it