Left atrial appendage closure with the AnchorMan or Watchman devices: 12-month results of the SAFE-PROTECT randomised trial

EuroIntervention 2026 Open access

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Authors: Binhao Wang, Heng Cai, Yanqing Wu, Manhua Chen, Changqian Wang, Xiaofei Jiang, Siming Tao, ZhiXiong Zhong, Jie Zeng, Fengling Wang, Zhongping Ning, Zuyi Yuan
+6 more Jiangui He, Dominic P. Francese, Alexandra J. Lansky, Ben He, Huimin Chu, on behalf of the SAFE-PROTECT investigators
DOI: 10.4244/eij-d-25-01168
Cited by: 1
References: 21

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is an alternative to chronic oral anticoagulation to reduce stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). AIMS: The SAFE-PROTECT trial was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the AnchorMan, a novel LAA closure device, compared with the Watchman 2.5 device for patients with AF at high risk of ischaemic stroke. METHODS: SAFE-PROTECT was a multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority trial of patients with non-valvular AF at high risk of ischaemic stroke, randomised 1:1 to LAA closure with the AnchorMan or the Watchman device. The 12-month primary endpoint was clinical success (freedom from ischaemic/haemorrhagic stroke, systemic embolism, cardiovascular or unexplained death); the secondary efficacy endpoint was echocardiography-defined LAA occlusion (peridevice leak

Fields of Study & Subjects

Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments Cardiovascular and Diving-Related Complications

Publication details

Journal / source
EuroIntervention
Publisher
Europa Digital & Publishing
Volume
22
Issue
13
Pages
e720–e729
Publication date
1 July 2026
Language
EN