Case report: Epicardial ligation of the left atrial appendage in a patient with an inaccessible left atrial cavity

It has been shown that endocardial occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is equally effective in preventing embolic events compared to oral anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. An 82-year-old female patient was admitted for LAA occlusion for repetitive GI bleeding. She had high CHADSVASC Score and HASBLED with long persistent atrial fibrillation with many comorbities. The preprocedural transesophageal echo revealed a great mass in the left atrium (Picture 1). Cardiac surgery was denied, we performed an epicardial only ligation for closing the LAA. For this approach we performed an epicardial puncture and contrast injection within the pericardial space to delineate the LAA. An epicardial wire with a suction mechanism at its distal end was attached to the anterior lobe of the LAA. Using this epicardial wire the snare could be advanced over the appendage and closed down. Complete exclusion of the LAA was achieved. There were no procedural complications and the patient is doing well after 3 months.