"The Failing Watchman": Recurrent Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Device (LAAOD) Thrombus After Successful Initial Implantation.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-30-2024

Publication Title

Cureus

Abstract

A 79-year-old female with chronic atrial fibrillation was being treated with dabigatran (Pradaxa). Pradaxa was discontinued after a significant bleeding episode. A WATCHMAN device was successfully implanted and Pradaxa was started. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) 49 days later showed a 3.6×2.2 cm clot overlying the device. Pradaxa was switched to Coumadin. Subsequent TEEs showed the complete resolution of the thrombus after five months on Coumadin. Coumadin was discontinued. Six months later, TEE showed a large mobile thrombus attached to the left atrial appendage occlusion device (LAAOD). The patient's hypercoagulable workup was negative. Due to recurrent thrombotic events, she was started on apixaban (Eliquis) due to a prior history of bleeding on Coumadin. She is currently on Eliquis with no further episodes of bleeding or device thrombus.

Volume

16

Issue

5

First Page

e61368

DOI

10.7759/cureus.61368

ISSN

2168-8184

PubMed ID

38947599

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