In-hospital management and follow-up
embolism, cardiac effusion
EMBOLISM
After the implantation procedures, patients were transferred to the cardiac care unit (CCU) for anesthesia recovery. A trans-thoracic echo-cardiograph (TTE) was performed at the day of the operation to rule out cardiac effusion or device-related embolism. Then, 4–5 days of observing were completed before the patients discharging.After the device implantation, patients received warfarin (INR ranges of 2.0–3.0) or NOACs for at least 45 days. 45 days after the procedures, TEE or enhanced left atrial CTA was performed to assess the residual flow, stability of the device, and device-related thrombus-formation. After the closure of LAAs was confirmed, anticoagulants (warfarin/NOACs) were discontinued. Patients then took a combination of Aspirin and Clopidogrel for an additional 4.5 months. After that, patients were prescribed with long-term Aspirin alone.