Successful percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion for atrial fibrillation in a patient with mirror-image dextrocardia: a case report

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2022 Jan 29;22(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s12872-021-02369-9.

Abstract

Background: Dextrocardia is a rare congenital condition (1/10,000-12,000) and AF is uncommon (1-2%). Therefore, the occurrence of the two conditions is rare. Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a treatment to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF)-associated thromboembolic events.

Case presentation: An 85-year-old female with known situs inversus totalis, persistent AF, and stroke was treated with oral anticoagulation, but she was suffering from constant gingival bleeding. Her CHA2DS2VASc score was 6 points (abnormal, ≥ 2), and her HAS-BLED score was 4 points (abnormal, ≥ 3). The transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated left atrial (LA) enlargement (46 mm) and 50% of ejection fraction. She underwent percutaneous LAAO for stroke recurrence prevention using a Watchman occluder. The operation was successful but with technical differences compared with a standard case because of the dextrocardia.

Conclusion: This is the first reported case of a percutaneous LAAO in situs inversus dextrocardia. This case indicates the feasibility of LAAO in congenital cardiac malposition combined with AF.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Mirror-image dextrocardia; Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Atrial Appendage / diagnostic imaging
  • Atrial Appendage / surgery*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation / diagnosis
  • Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology
  • Atrial Fibrillation / surgery*
  • Cardiac Catheterization / methods*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / methods*
  • Dextrocardia / complications*
  • Dextrocardia / diagnosis
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Septal Occluder Device*
  • Stroke / prevention & control*