Position Statement on Cardiac Computed Tomography Following Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-12-2024

Publication Title

JACC Cardiovasc Interv

Abstract

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is rapidly growing as valid stroke prevention therapy in atrial fibrillation. Cardiac imaging plays an instrumental role in preprocedural planning, procedural execution, and postprocedural follow-up. Recently, cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has made significant advancements, resulting in increasing use both preprocedurally and in outpatient follow-up. It provides a noninvasive, high-resolution alternative to the current standard, transesophageal echocardiography, and may display advantages in both the detection and characterization of device-specific complications, such as peridevice leak and device-related thrombosis. The implementation of CCT in the follow-up after LAAO has identified new findings such as hypoattenuated thickening on the atrial device surface and left atrial appendage contrast patency, which are not readily assessable on transesophageal echocardiography. Currently, there is a lack of standardization for acquisition and interpretation of images and consensus on definitions of essential findings on CCT in the postprocedural phase. This paper intends to provide a practical and standardized approach to both acquisition and interpretation of CCT after LAAO based on a comprehensive review of the literature and expert consensus among European and North American interventional and imaging specialists.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Atrial Appendage; Atrial Fibrillation; Predictive Value of Tests; Consensus; Treatment Outcome; Cardiac Catheterization; Stroke; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Risk Factors; Echocardiography, Transesophageal

PubMed ID

39142755

Volume

17

Issue

15

First Page

1747

Last Page

1764

Find It @ Sladen

Share

COinS