Left atrial appendage occlusion with Amplatzer Cardio Plug is an acceptable therapeutic option for prevention of stroke recurrence in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and contraindication or failure of oral anticoagulation with acenocumarol

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) appears as a therapeutic option for some atrial fibrillation patients not suitable for oral anticoagulation because an increased hemorrhagic risk or recurrent ischemic events despite anticoagulant treatment. Methods: Report of consecutive atrial fibrillation patients treated with LAAO with Amplatzer Cardio Plug because contraindication or failure of oral anticoagulation with acenocumarol. CHA2DS2VASC, HAS-BLED, NIHSS, mRS, procedural complications and outcome were assessed. Seven patients (73 +/- 6 year-old) were treated after intracerebral (n = 5) and gastrointestinal (n = 1) hemorrhages or ischemic stroke recurrence while on acenocumarol (n = 1). Results: Mean follow up was 18 months. Baseline CHA2DS2Vasc y HAS-BLED scores were 5.6 +/- 0.7 and 4.1 +/- 0.3 respectively. There were no strokes or deaths. There was only one non-serious adverse event. Conclusion: LAAO with ACP appears as a feasible therapeutic option for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation and failure or contraindication to acenocumarol.