Among >50,000 patients who underwent LAAO in the US (2016–2019), 1 in 4 patients had peri-device leak detected on follow up imaging at 45 days. Majority of leaks were small <5 mm in diameter. Small leaks, however, we associated with a modest increase in the composite endpoint of stroke, TIA, or SE at 1 year follow up.
LAAO; left atrial appendage occlusion, TIA; transient ischemic attack, SE; systemic embolization, HR; hazard ratio.