Imaging with intracardiac echocardiography compared to transesophageal echocardiography during left atrial appendage occlusion

We performed a meta-analysis comparing the procedural and outcomes data and related to left atrial appendage occlusion guided by intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients. Technical success with ICE was significantly similar to that of TEE (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% CI [0.62, 3.09], I-2 = 0%, P = 0.43). The peri-procedural complications showed no significant difference between the two groups (OR 0.84, 95% CI [0.57, 1.23], I-2 = 0%, P = 0.37). Mortality was similar in procedures using ICE vs TEE (OR 0.89, 95% CI [0.51, 1.57], I-2 = 0%, P = 0.69). Landing zones, procedural time and fluoroscopic times between ICE and TEE showed no significant differences (MD 1.96, 95% CI [-0.01, 3.94], I-2 = 90%, P = 0.05; MD -1.64, 95% CI [-13.45, 10.17], I-2 = 95%, P = 0.79; and MD 0.49, 95% CI [-2.18, 3.16], I-2 = 87%, P = 0.72, respectively). Imaging with ICE or TEE is associated with similar outcomes in left atrial appendage occlusion procedures.