Felix Meincke

TL;DR: This method of stroke risk reduction appears to be safe and effective with an ischemic stroke rate as low as 1.1%, even though 73% of patients had a contraindication to and were not using oral anticoagulation.

TL;DR: During the complete 2-year follow-up of Evaluating Real-Life Clinical Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Receiving the WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Technology, patients with a WATCHMAN left atrial appendage occlusion device had consistently low rates of stroke and nonprocedural bleeding, although most were contraindicated to oral anticoagulation and used only single antiplatelet therapy or nothing.

TL;DR: Direct puncture of the axillary artery for TAVI is feasible and safe if a wire is placed into the subclavian artery via the ipsilateral brachial artery.

TL;DR: LAA closure with the WATCHMAN device is feasible in patients with a relative or absolute contraindication to oral anticoagulation and neither DAPT nor NOAC therapy leads to a significant increase in device thrombus, stroke or bleeding compared to the standard VKA regimen.

TL;DR: Significant residual MS and/or MR were not infrequent after mitral ViV and ViR procedures and were both associated with a need for repeat valve replacement and strategies to improve postprocedural hemodynamics should be further explored.