Pulmonary artery perforation caused by a left atrial appendage closure device

Abstract

We describe a female patient who received hybrid catheter intervention and occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and left atrial appendage (LAA). Four hours after the procedure, pericardial tamponade suddenly occurred. Surgical exploration of the heart found that a fixation hook of the WATCHMAN device, had protruded through the LAA wall and tore the dilated pulmonary artery (PA). This is the first case report to describe PA perforation caused by barbs of the WATCHMAN device, and more attention should be paid to the relationship between the LAA and its adjacent structures before LAA closure.