Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of occlusion of the left atrial appendage in animals with two different left atrial appendage occluders, the single-disc cylindrical type and the double-disc split type.
Methods 14 healthy experimental dogs were occluded with single-disc cylindrical or double-disc split left atrial appendage occluder through the femoral vein, and the effect of occlusion was evaluated by intraoperative left atrial angiography; Gross specimens were examined to analyze the cause of death. The surviving experimental dogs were sacrificed on the 45th day, 80th day, 110th day and 15th month after operation, respectively.
Results Six experimental dogs were occluded with a single-disk cylindrical occluder. 5 experimental dogs died 30 min to 8 h after operation, and 1 experimental dog survived to 15 months and was sacrificed; 4 experimental dogs were found in gross cardiac anatomy. There were a lot of thrombus on the surface of the occluder in the experimental dogs, and about 1/5 of the surface of the occluder in the surviving experimental dog was not covered by new tissue; 110 days after the operation, the new tissue completely covered the surface of the occluder, and HE and immunofluorescence staining showed complete intima formation and neovascularization.
Conclusion The incidence of acute thrombosis and immediate death rate after implantation of the single-disc cylindrical occluder is high; the double-disc split type left atrial appendage occluder is used to occlude the complications related to the left atrial appendage. The 4-mesh covering disc was completely endometrialized.