Study design and patients
This was a post hoc analysis of a prospective study of all consecutive patients who underwent LAAC with Watchman devices between 2012 and 2018 at the REGIOMED Hospitals of Coburg and Lichtenfels (Germany) and who were prospectively enrolled in an observational registry. The indications for LAAC were based on the current guidelines and recommendations 15, 16. The exclusion criteria were active infection, pregnancy, intracardiac thrombus, and reasons for OAC other than AF. All patients provided written informed consent. The study protocol conforms to the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki as reflected in a priori approval by the institution’s human research committee.