Record Status This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database. Citation Medical Services Advisory Committee. Transcatheter occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Canberra: Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). MSAC application 1347. 2014 Authors' conclusions The WATCHMANâ„¢ Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Closure Device is intended for patients with non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation who require treatment for potential thrombus formation and are eligible for long-term oral anticoagulation therapy, or who have a contraindication to anticoagulation therapy. The procedure aims to prevent ischemic stroke and systemic thromboembolism by closing off the LAA permanently to avoid the migration of emboli (clots) to the brain.
The LAA Closure Device is a self-expanding nitinol frame structure with fixation anchors and a permeable polyester fabric that covers the atrial facing surface of the device. The access sheath and delivery catheter permit device placement in the LAA via femoral venous access and inter-atrial septum crossing into the left atrium.
The procedure takes up to approximately 60 minutes, and is performed under general anaesthesia by an interventional cardiologist or electrophysiologist in a catheterisation lab under fluoroscopy and transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE). Indexing Status Subject indexing assigned by NLM MeSH Anticoagulants /therapeutic use; Atrial Appendage /surgery; Atrial Fibrillation /complications; Cardiac Catheters; Heart Atria /surgerys; Stroke /etiology /prevention & Therapeutic Occlusion /adverse effects /instrumentation /methods; Treatment Outcome; control Language Published English Country of organisation Australia English summary An English language summary is available. Address for correspondence MDP 106, GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA Email: msac.secretariat@health.gov.au AccessionNumber 32015000576 Date abstract record published 27/05/2015 |