End Points
The endpoints of this study refered to the standardized endpoints/criteria included in the Munich consensus paper on LAAO by Tzikas et al. (7). The primary end point of the study included successful implantation of the LAA occlusion device. Successful closure of the LAA was determined by TEE as the absence of flow or minimal flow (jet of <5mm width; we set it to be < 3mm width) around the device according to the echocardiographic sealing criteria described previously (8). The second end points were the occurrence of adverse events, which included composite endpoints such as all-cause mortality, ischemic stroke or systemic embolism, and periprocedural complications including pericardial effusion/tamponade, bleeding, pericarditis, myocardial infarction, access-related complications, renal and hepatic injuries, and device-related complications.