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Case Reports
. 2024 Sep 2;20(1):80-86.
doi: 10.14797/mdcvj.1414. eCollection 2024.

Surgical Removal of a Migrated WATCHMAN Device

Andrew G Saleeb  1 , Juan M Farina  1 , Asher Jenkins  1 , Rawan Zeineddine  1 , Kenan Shawwaf  1 , Eric H Yang  1 , Said Alsidawi  1 , Dawn E Jaroszewski  1 , Francis X Downey  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Surgical Removal of a Migrated WATCHMAN Device

Andrew G Saleeb et al. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J. .

Abstract

The WATCHMAN™ atrial appendage closure device is designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who are not suitable candidates for long-term oral anticoagulation therapy. However, the device also carries small risks, including procedural complications such as device migration, embolization, or pericardial effusion. We describe a case of WATCHMAN device migration requiring surgical retrieval.

Keywords: WATCHMAN device; atrial fibrillation; left atrial appendage closure; modified maze procedure; sternotomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

TEE post-WATCHMAN device implantation, with device in place
Figure 1
Transesophageal echocardiography post-WATCHMAN device implantation. Echocardiogram showing WATCHMAN device (red dotted line) in place after implantation.
TEE at 2-week follow-up shows device encroaching onto mitral apparatus
Figure 2
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at 2-week follow-up post-WATCHMAN device implantation. (A) Echocardiogram showing the WATCHMAN device (red dotted line) encroaching onto the mitral apparatus (red arrow pointing to posterior mitral leaflet). Blue arrow points to semilunar valves of the aorta, and yellow lines outline the walls of the left ventricle. (B) TEE 3-dimensional reconstruction of the WATCHMAN device inside the left atrium.
WATCHMAN device visualized intraoperatively inside open left atrium
Figure 3
Intraoperative photograph of left atrium. WATCHMAN device visualized intraoperatively inside the open left atrium.
WATCHMAN device after extraction with bottom/top views
Figure 4
WATCHMAN device after extraction, bottom view (left) and top view (right).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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