Clinical Research Directory

Direct Comparison of Cardiac CT With TEE to Evaluate Watchman FLX LAA Occluder Device Characteristics

The current standard of care for patients who underwent left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is to have follow-up transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) for device surveillance. TEE is an ultrasound of the heart done by placing a probe in the esophagus under conscious sedation. It does not use contrast but can be cumbersome to patients as it involves placing a probe in the esophagus. Cardiac computerized tomography angiography (cardiac CTA) is a non-invasive imaging modality that involves the use of certain types of x-rays, contrast (dye) and special computers to generate accurate images of the heart. Participants in this study will undergo both TEE and CTA on the same day 90 days after their LAAC procedure. Participants will be in this research study for a period of 1 year, starting from the day of their scheduled LAAC procedure. Participants will undergo a TEE at 90 days after their procedure which is the standard of care imaging study after LAAC. As part of this study, participants will also undergo a cardiac CTA at 90 days as well. Participants will have a routine follow-up visit following device placement as per standard of care as well as a brief phone "check in" at 1 year.

APPEND-CT Registry

The APPEND-CT registry is an investigator-driven multicenter retrospective observational database intended to compile cardiac CT follow-up data after Watchman FLX device implantation and function as a platform for answering clinical and research questions within LAAC follow-up. The derived studies should support therapeutic decision-making, improve risk-stratification in LAAC and help generate hypotheses for potential future clinical intervention trials.