Potential Clinical Utility and Feasibility of Combined Left Atrial Appendage Closure and Positioning of Miniaturized Pacemaker Through a Single Right Femoral Vein Access

Abstract

This study assessed the clinical utility and feasibility of concomitant of combined left atrial appendage (LAA) closure and positioning of miniaturized pacemaker (Micra TPS). All consecutive patients who underwent VVI-PM implant from November 2015 to October 2016 were considered. VVI-PM implant was conducted either using transvenous approach or by positioning Micra TPS. In selected patients with concomitant contraindication to OAC, Micra TPS was combined with LAA occlusion ("combined approach"), performed in general anesthesia and guided by multimodality imaging; procedural and follow-up data of these specific patients were registered. Sixty patients were treated with VVI-PM implant. Six patients (10.0%) presented OAC contraindication, of which 4 (6.7%) were eligible for the "combined procedure"; 2 of 4 of these patients presented chronic hemodialysis-dependent renal failure. The combined approach was successful in all 4 patients without intra- or periprocedural complications. No adverse events linked to the combined approach occurred during mid-term follow-up (7.5, interquartile range 5.0 to 7.9 months). In conclusion, VVI-PM indication and concomitant contraindication to OAC is not uncommon; in selected patients, combined LAA closure and positioning of Micra TPS may be a feasible therapeutic option.