Complex venous disease in transcatheter left atrial appendage closure

Abstract

To the Editor, In left atrial appendage closure (LAAC), venous access is often predictable. These are 2 cases of venous disease found during LAAC and the alternatives proposed for its resolution. Both patients gave their informed consent for publication purposes. In case #1, an 88-year-old man who was a pacemaker carrier, with permanent atrial fibrillation, ventricular dysfunction, and non-surgical sacral fracture was referred for LAAC due to recurrent hemorrhages. Through previous ultrasound-guided venous puncture a transseptal system was advanced that experienced significant resistance in the iliac curvature, difficult torsion at the right atrium, and loss of driving force in the fossa ovalis (figure 1, videos 1-4 of the supplementary data). Transseptal puncture was achieved through the rigid section of a 0.014 in angioplasty guidewire by exchanging the flexible section and advancing the sheath towards the pulmonary vein. Afterwards, it was exchanged for a 14-Fr sheath, and the pigtail catheter was mounted over the high-support guidewire. However, significant resistance during retraction and rotation maneuvers was reported. Nevertheless, it was successfully placed in the left atrial appendage and several angiographies were performed. During pigtail catheter withdrawal, resistance was very significant with evidence of severe torsion following the previous lumbosacral surgery. Since it was impossible to...