RFCA of AF is safe and effective in octogenarians. A high rate of non-PV triggers is present in these patients, and targeting multiple structures other than the pulmonary veins is often necessary to achieve long-term success.

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Pericardiocentesis and drainage with FXaI reversal proved effective in the management of acute PEs with tamponade occurring periprocedurally in patients undergoing AF ablation with uninterrupted FXaI. Early postprocedural effusions can be treated with pericardiocentesis without the need of a reversal agent.

Introduction Electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is an important adjunctive ablation strategy in patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients who have impaired LAA contractility following isolation may require long‐term oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy irrespective of their CHADS2‐VASc score. Percutaneous LAA occlusion (LAAO) is a potential alternative to life‐long OAC therapy. We aimed to assess the rate of OAC discontinuation and thromboembolic (TE) events following percutaneous LAAO in patients who underwent LAA electrical isolation (LAAI). Methods This is a retrospective two‐center study of patients who underwent percutaneous LAAO following LAAI. Patients with at least 3‐month follow‐up were included in the study. The antithrombotic therapy and TE events at the time of the last follow‐up were noted. Results The LAA was successfully occluded in 162 (with Watchman device in 140 [86.4%] and Lariat in 22 [13.6%]). A total of 32 patients had leaks detected on the 45‐day transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE); 21 (15%) Watchman and 11 (50%) Lariat cases (P = 0.0001). Two (one Watchman and one Lariat) of the 32 leaks were more than 5 mm. After the 45‐day TEE, 150 (92.6%) patients were off‐OAC. No TE events were reported in the 150 patients who stopped the anticoagulants. Four (2.47%) patients experienced stroke following the LAAO (three Watchman and one Lariat) procedure while on‐OAC, two of which were fatal. At the median follow‐up of 18.5 months, 159 (98.15%) patients were off‐anticoagulant. Conclusion Up to 98% of patients with LAAI could safely discontinue OAC after undergoing the appendage closure procedure.

Introduction: In the early months of COVID-19 pandemic, a decline in stroke hospital admissions were reported nationwide. In a large, diverse region of Southern California, a collaborative effort was made to collect real-time data trends in stroke code activations and to assess this impact locally. The San Diego (SD) County Stroke Receiving Centers demonstrated a notable decrease of 30% in stroke code activations from March-May 2020 as compared to the same timeframe in 2019, which motivated the group to dedicate time and resources to pursue a united community messaging focused on seeking emergency treatment for stroke. Methods: A unified marketing campaign was created in collaboration with SD County EMS and the SD region American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. A single graphic message was utilized that emphasized the importance of seeking emergency treatment when suffering signs of stroke, along with the slogan “We are here for you. Every minute matters.” Impact of the campaign was gauged by quantifying the number of times our message was viewed on social media and number of stroke code activations after the campaign ended. Results: The unified social media campaign was posted by 14 of the 18 SD County stroke receiving hospitals during the month of June 2020. The team utilized Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to convey the message. The campaign yielded a total of 26,727 views. The median monthly stroke code activations in July 2020 increased to 34, as compared to 26.5 for March-May 2020. Conclusion: In a time when social distancing has become the norm, it is more important than ever to band together as a community. This endeavor demonstrates that virtual messaging serves as a viable option for community education during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future. A unified social messaging campaign targeting the importance of seeking emergency care for stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic is an effective way to reach large numbers of people regionally.