Intracardiac Versus Transesophageal Echocardiography Versus Fluoroscopy Only Guidance for Combined Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation and Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion

A total of 75 patients with atrial fibrillation were scheduled to receive left atrial appendage occlusion combined with radiofrequency ablation, which were divided into 3 groups. The operation was performed under the guidance of intracardiac echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscope only respectively (allocation ratio 1:1:1). During the operation, the total amount of contrast medium injected, the fluoroscopy time and the time from femoral vein puncture to transseptal puncture to closure were recorded in all patients. All patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography before and 3 months after operation, and the results were explained by two experienced ultrasound doctors to measure the presence of left atrial thrombus, residual shunt and device-related thrombus. All patients were examined by transthoracic echocardiography 3 months after operation to evaluate new pericardial effusion, pericardial tamponade, instrument embolization / displacement and so on. The baseline clinical and surgical features and hospitalization outcomes of patients guided by ICE and TEE and fluoroscopy only were recorded and compared. Clinical endpoints include death, new pericardial effusion that does not require pericardiocentesis, tamponade with pericardiocentesis, instrument embolism / displacement, bleeding at the entry site, thromboembolic events (stroke / transient ischemic attack [TIA]). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of intracardiac echocardiographic (ICE)-guided and transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE)-guided and fluoroscopy only-guided left atrial appendage occlusion combined with radiofrequency ablation. The average follow-up time is 3 months.