A Primer of LAA Closure: and Pattern Recognition Essential Views and Pattern Recognition Steven A. Goldstein MD FACC Director, Noninvasive Cardiology Medstar Heart Institute Washington Hospital Center Tuesday, February 24, 2015
financial relationships DISCLOSURE I have N O relevant financial relationships
LAA Anatomy
* # LA-Appendage Anatomy * # A “blind pouch” Characteristic triangular structure (“dog’s ear”) Highly variable structure 50% have multiple lobes Pectinate muscles * # * Caution to differentiate septation tissue b/w lobes from thrombus # Caution to differentiate prominent pectinate muscles from thrombus
LA-Appendage Anatomy Highly variable structure (size and shape) Long, hook-like true diverticulum of LA Lies within the pericardium Orifice is elliptical (not round) Lies in more than 1 imaging plane Often multi-lobed
Left Atrial Appendage Dimensions (Silicone casts from 11 specimens) Mean Range SD Length Os long diameter Os short diameter 44.9 mm 17.4 mm 10.9 mm 27-60 mm 10-24 mm 5-20 mm 9.6 mm 4 mm 4.2 mm Su (Royal Brompton, London – National Heart and Lung Institute) Heart 2008;94:1166-1170
Left Atrial Appendage Lobes Autopsy study (n=500) 2 lobes 3 lobes 1 lobe 4 lobes 54% 23% 20% 3% Veinot Circulation 1997;96:3112-3115
LA-Appendage Closure Role of TEE Identify all the lobes of the LAA Measure the size of the LAA ostium Look for thrombus/ dense “smoke” Look for atrial anatomy: ASD, PFO Identify other potential cardiac sources Provide guidance for transseptal puncture of embolism (eg atrial septal aneurysm, aortic debris)
LA-Appendage How to Image with TEE Begin with 4-chamber view (0º) Show MV in middle of sector Withdraw and anteflex probe With/without lateral flexion Also rotate from 0º to 135º 0º 45º 90º 135º
Septation tissue between lobes can mimic a thrombus
Multi-Lobed LA-Appendage
Multilobed Atrial Appendage
Case 1
NW - 80 year-old man Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis TEE performed during the procedure
4 Main Morphologies of LAA Cactus Windsock Cauliflower Chicken Wing more likely embolic event Di Biase J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60:531-538
Prevalence of Prior Stroke/TIA According to LAA Morphology Stroke rate (%) Di Biase J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60:531-538
Case 2 KG - 21 year-old woman TEE for endocarditis
Chicken Wing
Case 3 Case 16
ER - 88 year-old man Chronic atrial fibrillation Cardioversion reverted to atrial fibrillation Coumadin problematic “easy bruising” Referred to Watchman Trial Pre-procedure TEE . . . .
“Hammerhead” shape of LA-appendage
Case 4 NR - 35 year-old woman Bilobed LAA
Case 5 BH - 76 year-old woman Watchman LAA closure Case 16
BH - 76 year-old woman Longstanding, chronic atrial fibrillation Multiple cardioversions failed Referred for Protect – watchman Trial
Successful placement of 21 mm LA-appendage occluder device with TEE guidance
Width = 1.2 cm Length = 2.4 cm
0° 45° 90° 135° Prior to final deployment, check position in 4 views: 0° 45° 90° 135°
Occluded LAA-occluder adjacent to L-pulmonary vein
The End
Case 5 Case 16
Atrial Fibrillation Predisposing Factors to LA Thrombi Washington Hospital Center Nov, 2008 Jul, 2009 (8 months) 139 consecutive patients for TEE prior to Atrial fibrillation All underwent TEE prior to CV or ablation cardioversion (n=119) or ablation (n=20) New onset > 48 hrs (n=50) Chronic AC, but subtherapeutic (n=89)
Atrial Fibrillation Predisposing Factors to LA Thrombi Washington Hospital Center 19 (13.7%) patients had LA thrombi Independent risk factors: Reduced LV function (p=0.001) History of myocardial infarction (p=0.006) CHF (p=0.001)
Large thrombus in LAA and LA Case 6 Large thrombus in LAA and LA Case 16
LA-Appendage Morphology Cactus Di Biase J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60:531-538
LA-Appendage Morphology Chicken Wing Di Biase J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60:531-538
LA-Appendage Morphology Windsock Di Biase J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60:531-538
LA-Appendage Morphology Cauliflower Di Biase J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60:531-538
Role of TEE in LAA Closure Identify all the lobes of LAA Measure the size of the LAA ostium Look for thrombus / dense spontaneous echo Atrial anatomy – ASD, PFO with R-L shunt Guidance for transeptal puncture contrast closure may be contraindicated
4 Main Morphologies of LAA Cactus Windsock Cauliflower Chicken Wing Di Biase J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60:531-538
Chicken Wing
Chicken Wing