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type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/sites\/default\/files\/advagg_css\/css__ce2QY63WIanKyr8eSq7eavr1XQRRmFD6ZSmwpyJi8lM__zXwFqpqmxrZOXXcd_TpBQpjuELbmIP9wBR5UuTDWAO4__YJWWMMdfCJuAFm5cUEp88OsodhO3ZA-2lzRfoBsSlk4.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink rel=\u0027stylesheet\u0027 type=\u0027text\/css\u0027 href=\u0027\/sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/panels\/plugins\/layouts\/onecol\/onecol.css\u0027 \/\u003E\u003C\/head\u003E\u003Cbody\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panels-ajax-tab-panel panels-ajax-tab-panel-sageoa-tab-art\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-display panel-1col clearfix\u0022 \u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-panel panel-col\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-pane pane-highwire-markup\u0022 \u003E\n  \n      \n  \n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022pane-content\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-markup\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv xmlns=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022 id=\u0022content-block-markup\u0022 xmlns:xhtml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article fulltext-view \u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-start\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section abstract\u0022 id=\u0022abstract-1\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESummary\u003C\/h2\u003E\n            \u003Cp id=\u0022p-1\u0022\u003EThis article presents the results from the Watchman Left Atrial Appendage System for Embolic Protection in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation trial [PROTECT AF; \u003Ca class=\u0022external-ref external-ref-type-clintrialgov\u0022 href=\u0022\/lookup\/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV\u0026amp;access_num=NCT00129545\u0026amp;atom=%2Fspmdc%2F14%2F21%2F9.atom\u0022\u003ENCT00129545\u003C\/a\u003E] that compared the Watchman left atrial appendage device with warfarin therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022kwd-group\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EInterventional Techniques \u0026amp; Devices\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EArrhythmias\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ECardiology\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ECardiology Clinical Trials\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022kwd-group clinical-trial\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EInterventional Techniques \u0026amp; Devices\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EArrhythmias\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ECardiology \u0026amp; Cardiovascular Medicine\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ECardiology Clinical Trials\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-2\u0022\u003EVivek Y. Reddy, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, USA, presented the results from the Watchman Left Atrial Appendage System for Embolic Protection in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation trial [PROTECT AF; \u003Ca class=\u0022external-ref external-ref-type-clintrialgov\u0022 href=\u0022\/lookup\/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV\u0026amp;access_num=NCT00129545\u0026amp;atom=%2Fspmdc%2F14%2F21%2F9.atom\u0022\u003ENCT00129545\u003C\/a\u003E] that compared the Watchman left atrial appendage (LAA) device with warfarin therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-3\u0022\u003EThe PROTECT AF trial randomly assigned 707 patients with AF to Watchman implantation (n=463) or warfarin (n=244). The primary efficacy end point was the composite of stroke, systemic embolism, or cardiovascular death. Patients treated with the Watchman device were also treated with warfarin and aspirin for 6 weeks after implant, clopidogrel and aspirin from 6 weeks to 6 months, and aspirin alone after 6 months. Analyses were performed at 600 patient-years and every 150 patient-years thereafter until 1500 patient-years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-4\u0022\u003EAfter 3.8 years of follow-up, the primary efficacy event rates were 2.3 per 100 patient-years in the Watchman group versus 3.8 in the control group (rate ratio [RR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41 to 1.05; noninferiority p\u0026gt;0.999; superiority p=0.960) [Reddy VY et al. HRS 2013 (abstr LBA01\u201303)]. \u003Ca id=\u0022xref-table-wrap-1-1\u0022 class=\u0022xref-table\u0022 href=\u0022#T1\u0022\u003ETable 1\u003C\/a\u003E shows the results for the components of the primary efficacy endpoint.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\u0022T1\u0022 class=\u0022table pos-float\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022table-inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022callout\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EView this table:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022callout-links\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00220 first\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/\u0022 class=\u0022table-expand-inline\u0022 data-table-url=\u0022\/highwire\/markup\/14852\/expansion?postprocessors=highwire_figures%2Chighwire_math%2Chighwire_inline_linked_media%2Chighwire_embed\u0026amp;table-expand-inline=1\u0022 html=\u00221\u0022 fragment=\u0022#\u0022 external=\u00221\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EView inline\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/highwire\/markup\/14852\/expansion?width=1000\u0026amp;height=500\u0026amp;iframe=true\u0026amp;postprocessors=highwire_figures%2Chighwire_math%2Chighwire_inline_linked_media\u0022 class=\u0022colorbox colorbox-load table-expand-popup\u0022 rel=\u0022gallery-fragment-tables\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EView popup\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00222 last\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/highwire\/powerpoint\/14852\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-ppt\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload powerpoint\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022table-caption\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022table-label\u0022\u003ETable 1.\u003C\/span\u003E \n            \u003Cp id=\u0022p-5\u0022 class=\u0022first-child\u0022\u003EPROTECT AF: Components of the Primary Efficacy End Point\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cdiv class=\u0022sb-div caption-clear\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-8\u0022\u003EThe stroke rates were 1.5 per 100 patient-years in the Watchman group versus 2.2 in the control group (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.42 to 1.37; noninferiority p=0.999; superiority p=0.825). Ischemic strokes were increased in the Watchman group (1.4\/patient-year) versus the control group (1.1\/patient-year). It appears that the excess strokes were largely procedure related (\u003Ca id=\u0022xref-fig-1-1\u0022 class=\u0022xref-fig\u0022 href=\u0022#F1\u0022\u003EFigure 1\u003C\/a\u003E)\u2014thereby confirming that LAA closure has the same benefit in preventing ischemic strokes as systemic oral anticoagulation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\u0022F1\u0022 class=\u0022fig pos-float  odd\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-figure\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img-wrapper\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/9\/F1.large.jpg?width=800\u0026amp;height=600\u0026amp;carousel=1\u0022 title=\u0022Left Atrial Appendage Closure: Mechanism of Effect\u0022 class=\u0022fragment-images colorbox-load\u0022 rel=\u0022gallery-fragment-images-1673061573\u0022 data-figure-caption=\u0022Left Atrial Appendage Closure: Mechanism of Effect\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022fragment-image\u0022 alt=\u0022Figure 1.\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/9\/F1.medium.gif\u0022\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022highwire-figure-links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00220 first\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/9\/F1.large.jpg?download=true\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-download\u0022 title=\u0022Download Figure 1.\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload figure\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/9\/F1.large.jpg\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-newtab\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EOpen in new tab\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00222 last\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/highwire\/powerpoint\/14851\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-ppt\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload powerpoint\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-caption attrib\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022fig-label\u0022\u003EFigure 1.\u003C\/span\u003E \n            \u003Cp id=\u0022p-9\u0022 class=\u0022first-child\u0022\u003ELeft Atrial Appendage Closure: Mechanism of Effect\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-1\u0022\u003EReproduced with permission from VY Reddy, MD.\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022sb-div caption-clear\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-10\u0022\u003EThe impact of stroke as measured by Modified Rankin Scores (MRS) was MRS 1.9 in the Watchman group versus 3.6 in the control group (p=0.031). Disabling strokes occurred at 0.5 per 100 patient-years in the Watchman group versus 1.2 per 100 patient-years in the control group.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-11\u0022\u003EIn a prespecified analysis that analyzed the per-protocol population (which included device patients who stopped warfarin), results were 1.8 per 100 patient-years in the Watchman group versus 3.7 in the control group (RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.91; noninferiority p\u0026gt;0.999; superiority p=0.990). The rate of events in the post-hoc cohort of patients from the late-therapy analysis (including device patients following the discontinuation of clopidogrel) was 1.8 per 100 patient-years in the Watchman group versus 3.7 in the control group (RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.32 to 0.94; noninferiority p\u0026gt;0.999; superiority p=0.985). Intention-to-treat all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the Watchman group versus the control group (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.98; p=0.0379).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-12\u0022\u003EThe PREVAIL [\u003Ca class=\u0022external-ref external-ref-type-clintrialgov\u0022 href=\u0022\/lookup\/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV\u0026amp;access_num=NCT01182441\u0026amp;atom=%2Fspmdc%2F14%2F21%2F9.atom\u0022\u003ENCT01182441\u003C\/a\u003E] trial missed one of two efficacy end points, but it had a small number of events. The CAP registry data confirmed the PROTECT AF data demonstrating the superiority of the Watchman to warfarin. Safety event rates in all three trials were 9.9% in the first half and 4.8% in the second half of PROTECT AF, 4.1% in CAP, and 4.2% in PREVAIL.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-13\u0022\u003EDr. Reddy concluded that interventional therapies for the prevention of stroke for patients with atrial fibrillation such as LAA closure are feasible and may become alternatives to warfarin. Despite the early risk of events in the periprocedural period, the overall safety event rates with the Watchman were similar to those with warfarin.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022copyright-statement\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022fn\u0022 id=\u0022copyright-statement-1\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2014 MD Conference Express\u00ae\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-end\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022related-urls\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/content\/14\/21\/9.abstract\u0022 class=\u0022hw-link hw-link-article-abstract\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EView Summary\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n  \n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_figures.js?nzp05d\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_openurl.js?nzp05d\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_tables.js?nzp05d\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C\/body\u003E\u003C\/html\u003E"}