Left atrial appendage closure for "primary primary" prevention during percutaneous closure of septal defects in patients with large atria but no atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is a routine procedure to prevent right ventricular failure, pulmonary hypertension, or paradoxical embolism. The latter is the typical reason for percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure. Atrial enlargement represents a risk for develop-ing atrial fibrillation (AF). Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is emerging as a preven-tive therapy for patients in AF who suffered from a previous stroke or bleeding (secondary prevention) or patients without previous stroke or bleeding (primary prevention). Percutaneous septal closure, particularly that of large ASDs, may inhibit future percutaneous left atrial access when required for LAA closure. Reported herein is the feasibility and safety of concomitant percutaneous closure of the LAA and a septal shunt, mostly large ASDs, in patients without AF, in the sense of "primary primary" preventive LAA closure. The first "primary" relates to "in anticipation of AF" and potentially also for "for prevention of AF". The second "primary" relates to "prevention of stroke or bleeding".

METHODS: Thirteen consecutive patients, older than 40 years without any clinical or electrocardio-graphic evidence of AF, underwent percutaneous closure of large ASDs or PFOs in the presence of enlarged atria at the university hospitals of Bern and Zurich between April 2013 and June 2015. They concomitantly received "primary primary" preventive LAA closure after informed consent.

RESULTS: Mean patient age was 58 ± 9 years (46% male). Procedural success was achieved in all pa-tients and no major adverse events occurred acutely or during the following 2.0 ± 0.8 years. No patient developed AF.

CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant closure of ASD or PFO in the presence of enlarged atria and LAA for "primary primary" prevention appears feasible and safe but has yet to prove its justification.