Heart within a Heart

Authors

Tarun Jain, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Jainil Shah, Henry Ford Health
Sunay Shah, Henry Ford Health
Shalini S. Modi, Henry Ford HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Jain T, Shah J, Shah S, and Modi S. Heart within a heart. J Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2016; 24(1):60-63.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2016

Publication Title

J Cardiovasc Ultrasound

Abstract

Device based closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) has emerged as a viable approach for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with contraindications to chronic oral anticoagulation. One of the most feared complications is device related thrombus formation. We present a 66-year-old male with chronic AF who developed a life-threatening intracranial bleed on oral anti-coagulation. He subsequently underwent LAA closure using an Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect closure device for stroke prevention. However, he was found to have a large thrombus attached to the device a year later. We present a review of the various LAA closure devices, importance of periodic surveillance via echocardiography and management options to prevent this complication. Also, the case highlights the importance of contrast-enhance echocardiography in diagnosis of LAA closure device thrombus.

PubMed ID

27081446

Volume

24

Issue

1

First Page

60

Last Page

63