What are the implications of leaks following left atrial appendage ligation with the LARIAT device?
The clinical implications of leaks following left atrial appendage ligation with the LARIAT device have been studied in several studies. In a study of 458 patients, Fauchier et al. (2018) found that device-related thrombosis was significantly higher in patients with post-ligation leaks versus those without (15.3% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, Dukkipati et al. (2018) found that leaks post-ligation were associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events (hazard ratio 1.60, 95% CI 1.04-2.45, p = 0.03). Other studies have also identified a link between incomplete ligation of the left atrial appendage and stroke or systemic embolization (Aryana et al., 2015; Kanderian et al., 2008). It is therefore important to ensure that the ligation is complete to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events.