Left atrial appendage closure using WATCHMAN device in chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease patients

[Atrial fibrillation - what should be taken into account with chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis?]

CKD is a common comorbidity in patients with atrial fibrillation. The CHA2DS2-VASc score is not validated in patients with severe CKD and has a low predictive value in dialysis patients. As NOACs are partly eliminated by the kidneys the dosage has to be adapted in CKD. Recent studies indicate an acceptable safety profile for NOACs in CKD. However, larger randomized studies are still lacking. The results from prospective studies with placebo i.e., no anticoagulation therapy, are pending.

Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for embolic stroke, and many nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients have concomitant CKD. Anticoagulation therapy can be challenging in CKD due to increased bleeding risk, and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may be a promising alternative.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to consolidate current evidence on the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter LAAO in patients with CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

METHODS

Medline, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched from inception to September 2, 2022. We conducted a meta-analysis if an outcome was evaluated in at least two similar studies.

RESULTS

We included 15 studies with 77,780 total patients. Of the 15 studies, 11 had a cohort design (five prospective and six retrospective), and four were case series. Patients with CKD were older and had a higher prevalence of comorbidities than non-CKD patients. The two groups did not differ in procedural failure rate, vascular complications, or pericardial tamponade. CKD patients exhibited higher odds of in-hospital acute kidney injury (AKI) and bleeding, longer-term bleeding, and mortality than those without CKD. The risk of in-hospital and longer-term cardioembolic events was similar between CKD and non-CKD populations (odds ratio = 1.01 [95% CI 0.70-1.15] and 1.05 [95% CI 0.55-2.00], respectively). Patients with ESRD had higher odds of in-hospital mortality and cardioembolic events than non-ESRD patients, with no differences in risk of pericardial tamponade.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on observational studies, LAAO may be an effective option to prevent cardioembolic events in CKD. However, CKD patients may have higher odds of AKI and in-hospital and long-term bleeding and mortality. The adverse clinical outcomes observed in CKD patients may be attributed to this population's high burden of comorbidities, especially among those with ERSD, rather than the LAAO procedure itself. To ensure maximum clinical benefit, careful patient selection, management, and surveillance involving multidisciplinary teams are essential for CKD patients undergoing LAAO. Transcatheter Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (laao) Can Prevent Cardioembolic Events In Chronic Kidney Disease (ckd) Patients. However, Ckd Patients, Particularly Those With End-stage Renal Disease/dialysis (esrd), May Face Increased Odds Of Acute Kidney Injury, In-hospital And Long-term Bleeding, And Mortality. Notably, These Adverse Outcomes In Ckd Patients May Be Linked To Their High Comorbidity Burden, Particularly In Those With Esrd, Rather Than The Laao Procedure Itself. Careful Patient Selection, Management, And Surveillance Involving Multidisciplinary Teams Are Essential For Ckd Patients Undergoing Laao To Ensure Maximum Clinical Benefit Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) can prevent cardioembolic events in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, CKD patients, particularly those with end-stage renal disease/dialysis (ESRD), may face increased odds of acute kidney injury, in-hospital and long-term bleeding, and mortality. Notably, these adverse outcomes in CKD patients may be linked to their high comorbidity burden, particularly in those with ESRD, rather than the LAAO procedure itself. Careful patient selection, management, and surveillance involving multidisciplinary teams are essential for CKD patients undergoing LAAO to ensure maximum clinical benefit.

Not to Rush-Laboratory Parameters and Procedural Complications in Patients Undergoing Left Atrial Appendage Closure

Background: As a preventive procedure, minimizing periprocedural risk is crucially important during left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). Methods: We included consecutive patients receiving LAAC at nine centres and assessed the relationship between baseline characteristics and the acute procedural outcome. Major procedural complications were defined as all complications requiring immediate invasive intervention or causing irreversible damage. Logistic regression was performed and included age and left-ventricular function. Furthermore, the association between acute complications and long-term outcomes was evaluated. Results: A total of 405 consecutive patients with a median age of 75 years (37% female) were included. 47% had a history of stroke. Median CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4 (interquartile range, 3−5) and the median HAS-BLED score was 3 (2−4). Major procedural complications occurred in 7% of cases. Low haemoglobin (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.65−0.99 per g/dL, p = 0.040) and end-stage kidney disease (OR 13.0, CI 2.5−68.5, p = 0.002) remained significant in multivariate analysis. Anaemia (haemoglobin < 12 and < 13 g/dL in female and male patients) increased the risk of complications 2.2-fold. Conclusions: The major complication rate was low in this high-risk patient population undergoing LAAC. End-stage kidney disease and low baseline haemoglobin were independently associated with a higher major complication rate.