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.