The left atrial appendage (LAA) is the source of thromboembolism in the vast majority of patients with atrial fibrillation and stroke. As a consequence, a newer paradigm of targeting the LAA has evolved, including the use of several percutaneous techniques, including the LARIAT snare device (SentreHEART). This minimally invasive strategy involves pericardial suture ligation of the LAA base usin...

authors and five references. They should not have tables or figures and should relate solely to an article published in Circulation within the preceding 12 weeks. Only some letters will be published. Authors of those selected for publication will receive prepublication proofs, and authors of the article cited in the letter will be invited to reply. Replies must be signed by all authors listed i...

Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion has been introduced into clinical practice as a valuable alternative to oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. In this case presentation we describe the first LAA occlusion in Greece using the Amplatzer Amulet device. We also briefly discuss issues related to procedural safety and multimodality imaging ...

Although the left atrial appendage has a quite unique structure, its function remains unclear. To clarify the function of the left atrial appendage, changes in its anteroposterior, transverse and longitudinal dimensions, and in the anteroposterior dimension of the left atrial body were measured by a sonomicrometer during volume loading in open chest dogs. In the control state, fractional shorte...

This article reviews the published evidence on stroke prevention with percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage and provides comparative insight into the various left atrial appendage closure devices currently in development.

We present the case of a 59-year-old patient with persistent atrial fibrillation, referred for atrial fibrillation ablation. The procedure was performed with the help of NAVX 3D mapping system (Saint Jude Medical) and iLAB Ultra ICE Plus ultrasound imaging catheter (Boston Scientific). The catheter permits cross-sectional images perpendicular to catheter's long axis. From inside left atrial app...

Zakaria Jalal, Xavier Iriart, Marie-Lou Dinet, Olivier Corneloup, Xavier Pillois, Hubert Cochet, Jean-Benoît Thambo Department of Paediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiology, Bordeaux University Hospital, Pessac, France Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, IHU Liryc, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, INSERM, Borde...

We describe a case of severe left ventricular (LV) heart failure caused by tachycardiomyopathy with concomitant presence of unsolved thrombus in left atrial appendage despite effective oral anticoagulant treatment. Successful ablation of atrial flutter and atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia entailed resolution of heart failure symptoms and normalisation of LV function.

Effortful control has been demonstrated to have important ramifications for children's self-regulation and social-emotional adjustment. However, there are wide socioeconomic disparities in children's effortful control, with impoverished children displaying heightened difficulties. The current study was designed to demonstrate how instability within the proximal rearing context of young children...

New devices designed for minimally invasive closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) may be a viable alternative for patients in whom anticoagulation is considered high risk. The Lariat (Sentreheart, Redwood City, CA), which is currently FDA-approved for percutaneous closure of tissue, requires both trans-septal puncture and epicardial access. However it requires no anticoagulation after the ...