Quote
Shannon
Always good to hear and it’s true some LAA Isolation patients who are borderline during their initial 6 month post LAA-Isolation TEE scan, but miss the passing grade that is now 45cm/sec or greater, will go on to pass a future exam that shows all 3 metrics are passed:

1. LAA Emptying Velocity of: >/=45cm/sec
2. A consistently robust Doppler A-Wave into the Mitral Valve Inflow area measurement.
3. Complete absence of any ‘Smoke’ or SEC (Spontaneous Echo Contrast) in both the LA and within the LAA.

These three metrics much all earn a passing grade to earn the right to stop OAC for folks with LAA isolation ... and ONLY if the person’s systemic stroke risk score (CHADS-VASc score) is </=2.0.

If stroke risk score is greater than 2.0 most EPs will insist on either continued Eliquis and/or to go for LAA Closure and sometimes even then an OAC drug (possibly at half dose) might still be required for those with higher systemic (non-LAA/AFIB related) stroke risks.

About 58% of LAA isolation patient do not pass the initial post 6 month LAA-iso TEE test and thus need to stay with either OAC or LAA Closure. But that leaves ~42% of LAA-ISO patients who stand a great chance of stopping all blood thinners plus have all atrial arrhythmia out of your life long-term. The ultimate ‘win-win’!

That is WAY better odds of getting off a blood thinner than just avoiding LAA Isolation for those with LAA triggering their AFIB/AFlutter/ATachy. And which only insures 100% need for life long blood thinner for this class of patients who will also morph into Persistent/LSPAF, if they have not already!!