Summary
1. Left atrial appendage is not the only source of systemic thromboemboli. Thrombi form in the rest of the left atrium and even in the ventricle. 2. The trial did not address issues of thrombogenicity of the device by itself. 3. "Pericardial effusion" was not an effusion, but a bleeding from the appendage after device was deployed. 4. The trial did not include population with contraindications to anticoagulation: instead comparing embolic stroke rates in patient with atrial fibrillation with contraindications to Coumadin with and without Watchman, the trial involved anticoagulated patients with and without the device and analyzed the rates of hemorrhagic stroke!!
Analysis
Critical data is missing.
This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
