The PROTECT AF trial previously demonstrated that left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) was non inferior to warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, this trial included patients eligible for anticoagulation therapy who received warfarin for 6 weeks after device implantation. The purpose of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of LAAC for stroke patients with NVAF and contraindication for anticoagulation.

Consecutive patients with a previous ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, NVAF and contraindication for anticoagulation underwent LAAC with the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug device between July 2010 and July 2013 in a French university hospital. Follow-up included clinical evaluation at 3 and 12 months, and a cardiac computed tomography (CT) at 3 months. Single-antiplatelet therapy was prescribed after the procedure for a minimum of 3 months and stopped if the control cardiac CT demonstrated complete LAA exclusion. RESULTS: 26 patients (age 73±8 years) were included. The mean CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 4±1.5 and 4±0.8, respectively. The main contraindications for anticoagulation were: intracerebral hemorrhage while receiving anticoagulation (62%), ischemic stroke with large hemorrhagic transformation (15%) and probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy (8%). The procedure was successful in 100%. Procedure-related complications were serious pericardial effusion (3.8%) and femoral bleeding (7.7%). During a mean follow-up of 8.6 (3-16) months, ischemic stroke occurred in 2 patients (7.7%), after antiplatelet therapy was stopped for one of them. One patient died of an intracranial hemorrhage.

LAAC followed by a single antiplatelet therapy could be a reasonable alternative for stroke patients with NVAF and contraindication for anticoagulation. Lifelong rather than short-term single antiplatelet therapy should be prescribed after the procedure for patients at high cardio-vascular risk.