Impact of Left Atrial Appendage Closure During Cardiac Surgery on the Occurrence of Early Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation, Stroke, and Mortality: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of 10,633 Patients
In this manuscript, the authors describe their findings in a propensity score matched analysis of a retrospectively acquire data on 9792 patients undergoing CABG or heart valve surgery over a 6-year period. 461 matched pairs were identified and analysed in order to evaluate the effect of left atrial appendage (LAA) closure on postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), stroke and mortality. In this cohort of patients, LAA closure during routine non–AF-related cardiac surgery was independently associated with increased risk of early POAF and did not significantly influence the risk of stroke or long-term mortality.
This needs to be more widely known. What does this do to the stampede to implant the Watchman device. I know , this is like comparing ” apples and oranges”